Gold medalist Jesper Pedersen of Norway with silver medalist Rene de Silvestro of Italy and bronze medalist Liang Zilu of China are seen during the flower ceremony for the Para Alpine Skiing, Men's Giant Slalom Sitting on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Gorgeous galaxies and stunning stars make up this selection of pictures from the shortlisted entries for this year’s Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year award. The winners will be announced on 15 September, and an exhibition of the winning images will be will be displayed in a free exhibition at the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Centre from 17 September. Here: “Seven Magic Points”. The rusty red swirls of the circular, iron sculpture Seven Magic Points in Brattebergan, Norway mirror the rippling aurora above. (Photo by Rune Engebø/Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016/National Maritime Museum)

A large bull walrus returns to the shores of Prins Karl Forland after diving and feeding on clams. (Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic). Svalbard, Norway, 2011

Tiril Eckhoff of Norway in action during the Women's Biathlon 4x6km Relay race at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre at the Beijing ​2022 Olympic Games, Zhangjiakou, China, 16 February 2022. (Photo by Martin Divísek/EPA/EFE)

A spent cartridge pops out of the rifle of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, of Norway, during warmup before the Women 7.5 km Sprint competition at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany, Friday, February 10, 2023. (Photo by Matthias Schrader/AP Photo)

A king eider sea duck tackles a prickly dinner of sea urchin on a lake in Batsfjord, Norway in the last decade of August 2024. The drake’s breeding plumage consists of a distinctive powder-blue head and neck, orange frontal lobe and a red bill. (Photo by Mia Surakka/Solent News)

The 33-year-old Norwegian rightwing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in Norway last year, arrives at a courtroom. (Photo by Heiko Junge/AP File Photo)

Capturing the true essence of Christmas, Lapland is the perfect place to take your family for the holiday period. Situated in the arctic regions of northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, there are a villages in each country around where you can enjoy the full festive experience.