Stunning Galaxies Photos From Astronomy Photographer Of The Year

Winner: Andromeda, Unexpected by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty

Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition galaxy photos will take you on a stunning cosmic tour. Each image shows the huge and enigmatic universe, shot by brilliant photographers who merged art and science.

These photos show the richness and beauty of our cosmic neighborhood, from distant spiral galaxies’ ethereal brilliance to cosmic collisions’ chilling beauty. Take in the intricate dance of stars and gas clouds in beautiful galaxies or the brilliant colors of interstellar dust clouds illuminated by newborn stars.

More: Royal Museums Greenwich, Instagram

Runner-up: The Eyes Galaxy by Weitang Liang

Highly commended: Neighbours by Paul Montague

Shortlist: NGC 4945: Caldwell 83 by Jonathan Lodge

Shortlist: Nebulae of the Small Magellanic Cloud by Jonathan Lodge

Shortlist: NGC 1097 and Tidal Tails by Mark Hanson and Mike Selby

Shortlist: NGC 55 by Matt Dieterich

Shortlist: A Cosmic Meathook by Yovin Yahathugoda

Shortlist: Messier 96: Holding the Baby Galaxy by Mark Hanson and Mike Selby

Shortlist: Radio ‘A’: Kilohertz to Exahertz by Martin Pugh

Shortlist: NGC 1316: A Tangle of Swirling Dust by Kevin Morefield

Shortlist: NGC 3521: Marquise in the Sky by Mark Hanson and Mike Selby

Shortlist: NGC 7497: Galaxy and Dust by Frank Sackenheim, Josef Poepsel, and Stefan Binnewies

Shortlist: NGC 891 and Abell 347: Interstellar Map by Rui Liao