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)

Sixty four year old Hollywood movie stuntman Rock Taylor drives through a huge sheet of glass at the 02 Arena on September 13, 2011 in London, England. The stunt was performed in an attempt to break a previous Guinness record to “break through the Largest breakaway glass structure in a car”. The stunt was to mark “Remember a Charity” week, which aims to encourage more people to leave gifts to charity in their will. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Queenie Liao is an artist but first of all a mother and she wanted to show that you can be both… at the same time. With her creative photography she caught the dreams of her child during his sleeps: the result is a brilliant compilation of photos where her baby is the absolout protagonist. Pacific as if nothing happens around him, his daily sleeps are transformed by Queenie Liao into fascinating fairy tales by using plain cloths, stuffed animals, and other common household . A brillaint work that makes us remember our childhood, where our dreams were full of magic.

The feet of a Filipino penitent is nailed to a wooden cross during Good Friday rituals on April 3, 2015 at Cutud, Pampanga province, northern Philippines. Several Filipino devotees had themselves nailed to crosses Friday to remember Jesus Christ's suffering and death, an annual rite frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

People in costume take photos during a Halloween event on October 31, 2015 in Lan Kwai Fong, Central District, Hong Kong. Halloween, a named taken from 'All Hallows' Even' falls on the day before All Saints' Day on November 1, a holiday when Christians remember their deceased loved ones. (Photo by Jerome Favre/Getty Images)

La Traviata chandelier is positioned on stage at Mrs Macquarie's Point on March 16, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Covered with 10,000 Swarovski crystals, the 9 metre high chandelier will be hung above the performing stage of the La Traviata Opera. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

As an airliner prepares to land, a bird takes off at the Gravelly Point park near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va. on December 23, 2018. (Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

The king penguin in his moulting suit joins his waddle on their way to the water despite not being waterproof yet at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands, 2023. (Photo by Judy Rogero/Media Drum Images)