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)

2016 Rio Olympics, Rugby, Women's Semifinals Britain vs New Zealand, Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 8, 2016. Portia Woodman (NZL) of New Zealand tackles Claire Allan (GBR) of United Kingdom. (Photo by Phil Noble/Reuters)

President Joe Biden holds a baby as he visits a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Church of the Holy Communion Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Washington. (Photo by Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Iranian chess player Sara Khadem competes, without wearing a hijab, in FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan December 26, 2022, in this picture obtained by Reuters on December 27, 2022. (Photo by Lennart Ootes/FIDE/via Reuters)

Cosplayers dressed as a Battle Sister and an Ultramarine from Warhammer 40,000 pose during Los Angeles Comic Con at Los Angeles Convention Center on December 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with Giuliana, a fan from Brazil, as he arrives with the Portuguese team at Lisbon airport to depart for the World Cup in Qatar, Friday, November 18, 2022. (Photo by Armando Franca/AP Photo)

Celera Barnes of the United States trains during a warm up session before the start of the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, February 29, 2024. (Photo by Bernat Armangue/AP Photo)

A model presents a creation for Irish-American designer Paul Costelloe during the catwalk show for his Autumn/Winter 2023 collection on the opening day of the London Fashion Week, in London, on February 17, 2023. (Photo by Niklas Halle'n/AFP Photo)