Tourists fly in hot air balloons over the west bank of the Nile River on January 9, 2025 in Luxor, Egypt. Luxor, which contains the historical city of Thebes, capital of ancient Egypt's pharaohs at the height of their power, is full of pharaonic monuments and other antiquities. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)

The Royal Observatory just announced its Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2013 winners. Australian photographer Mark Gee was chosen among a thousand amateur and professional photographers around the globe to win the top title. His work is part of an exhibition of the winning photographers, which opened on Sept. 19 at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. The Royal Observatory shared with us the winners and notable mentions of the competition. Their descriptions of the prizewinners can be found below the images.

Contestant of the Muslimah World 2013, Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola (C) of Nigeria, is reflected in a mirror checking her make-up while contestants wait for a grand final during the Muslimah World competition in Jakarta on September 18, 2013. (Photo by Adek Berry/AFP Photo)

O Santa Claus of Australia competes in the mens 80–84 years 100 metres heats during day two of the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games at Sydney Olympic Park on October 11, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Taking it all in at Trolltunga, a piece of rock which juts horizontally out of a mountain, 700 metres above lake Ringedalsvatnet in Norway. (Photo by Sam Rogers/GuardianWitness)

Participants wearing superhero costumes attend the World DC Comics Super Heroes event in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, near Madrid, April 18, 2015. To celebrate the anniversary of the publication of the very first Superman story, DC Comics are asking fans to help set a new world record for the largest global gathering of people dressed as DC Comics Super Heroes. (Photo by Andrea Comas/Reuters)

Paolo Guerrero of Brazil's Internacional reacts after missing an opportunity to score during a Copa Libertadores soccer match against Chile's Palestino in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Photo by Diego Vara/Reuters)

Overall winner: The Art of Flight by Alwin Hardenbol (University of Eastern Finland). A panning shot of a Dalmatian pelican in flight. The picture was taken on Lake Kerkini in Greece. (Photo by Alwin Hardenbol/2020 British Ecological Society Photography Competition)