The competition is run by Royal Observatory Greenwich sponsored by Insight Investment and in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine. This year astrophotographers from 91 countries sent in more than 4,200 spectacular entries. Here: The Milky Way rises above an isolated lighthouse in Tasmania. Shot by James Stone of Australia. (Photo by James Stone/Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2018)

The Art Car Parade is the highlight of a three-day celebration of the drive to create: Art Car Weekend. But it all began with a donated 1967 Ford staton wagon and $800 worth of paint and plastic fruit. And now, 26 years later, it attracts 250+ vehicles (and other entries) from 23 states, Canada, and Mexico. Photo: An art car is seen on Allen Parkway during the 26th Annual Houston Art Car Parade on May 11 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran)

The 26th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is now accepting submissions. Official categories include: “Travel Portraits”, “Outdoor Scenes”, “Sense of Place” and “Spontaneous Moments”. The contest is accepting entries until June 30. Photo: “Forest lights”. Aurora Borealis over the forest of the Pyhae Luosto National Park, Finland. (Photo and caption by Nicholas Roemmelt/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

It's often said that pets and their owners can start to look alike, but these adorable photographs take the old mantra to a new extreme. They are the work of Svetlana Valyiskaya (27), from St Petersburg, who snaps pets in everyday poses in her spare time from her job as a commercial photographer. The vibrant costumes and scenes, which Svetlana designs herself, have made the photos a hit in her native Russia – and it's not hard to see why. She said: “I really love animals, they are loyal, faithful and true and always interesting to work with – plus they never criticise the photographs afterwards”. (Photo by Svetlana Valyiskaya/Mercury)

In this March 30, 2020, photo, Zandile Mlotshwa, 21, cashier at Spar supermarket in the Norwood suburb of Johannesburg, counts her cash at the end of her shift. From South Africa to Italy to the U.S., grocery workers – many in low-wage jobs – are manning the front lines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. (Photo by Jerome Delay/AP Photo)

A cat and a dog stray along a side street in Las Pinas city, Metro Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2023. A significant number of dogs and cats left wandering in streets could lead to potential health hazard due to rabies. Amidst Covid-19 pandemic, displaced pet owners who lost their job because their employers closed or lost business were forced to leave their animals in the city as they migrate elsewhere. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

Turkish guard police take special training, lasting 316 hours, for carrying out their job at best at Police Training Center Directorate of Guarding Training Academy of Turkiye on June 1, 2022. in Ankara, Turkiye. (Photo by Evrim Aydin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)