Stars and nebulae runner-up: The Dolphin Jumping out of an Ocean of Gas by Connor Matherne (USA). This target is officially known as Sh2-308 but the photographer has always enjoyed calling it the Dolphin nebula. It is a bubble of gas being shed by the bright blue star in the centre of the image as it enters its pre-supernova phase. The red star, to the right, could possibly be influencing the shape too and might be responsible for the bill of the dolphin. While it will not explode in our lifetimes, seeing the warning signs is valuable. (Photo by Connor Matherne/2020 Astronomy Photographer of the Year)
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