Rebel fighters fire towards positions of regime forces in Ramussa on the southwestern edges of Syria's northern city of Aleppo on August 6, 2016. Syrian rebels said they have broken a three-week government siege of second city Aleppo, turning the tables on Russian-backed regime forces who are now on the defensive. (Photo by Fadi Al-Halabi/AFP Photo)

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 young woman takes pictures of the city with her mobile phone, from the glass-floor observation platform, in the Oriental Pearl Tower, in the financial district of Shanghai, on May 9, 2019. (Photo by Hector Retamal/AFP Photo)

This aerial photo taken on June 13, 2021 shows an image of youths, created by growing different varieties of rice, in a paddy in Shenyang, China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP Photo/China Stringer Network)

Valeria Ruiz, 10, from Colombia, does a cartwheel while visiting the U.S. Capitol, as Republican members of the House continue to work towards electing a new Speaker of the House in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Ellie Alderson partner of Ollie Watkins (ENG) and Lewis Capaldi the wife of Dean Henderson (ENG) Aine May Kennedy partner of Conor Gallagher (ENG) Megan Davison wife of Jordan Pickford (ENG) at Arena Aufschalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Moritz Muller/Alamy Live News)

Paris Saint-Germain's Italian goalkeeper #01 Gianluigi Donnarumma sustains an injury by Monaco's Ivorian defender #17 Wilfried Singo (L) during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery Hache/AFP Photo)

Keen diver Yusuke Fukami fulfilled a personal dream by snapping a cartoon-like Costasiella sea slug while in Bali in the last decade of December 2024. (Photo by Yusuke Fukami/South West News Service)