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)

View of a group of ostriches, in the gardens of the Palacio do Alvorada, in Brasilia, Brazil, 02 June 2020. The ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird in the world. When the chicks hatch they are between 25 and 30 cm tall, weighing about 900 grams. (Photo by Joedson Alves/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

The players of Denmark huddle prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier match between Denmark and Sweden at Viborg Stadion on September 4, 2018 in Viborg, Denmark. (Photo by Lars Ronbog/FrontZoneSport via Getty Images)

Actress Vanessa Hudgens attends Carolina Herrera SS20 during New York Fashion Week in New York City on September 9, 2019. (Photo by Christopher Peterson/Splash News and Pictures)

A Netherlands fan with his face painted is seen in the stand before the match against Poland during UEFA Nations League action at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland on September 22, 2022. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Security grab a Just Stop Oil protester during day one of the second Ashes test match at Lord's, London on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

A fellow officer comes to the aid of injured patrolman C.V. Satt, who was pelted with rocks and beer bottles during a clash between police and relief demonstrators in Denver September 23, 1935. (Photo by Henry G. Eisenhand/AP Photo)

An unidentified elderly woman, who was knocked over during the melee after a shot was fired in the direction of President Ford, is comforted by a passerby in San Francisco, September 23, 1975. (Photo by AP Photo)