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.

Fireplace for children, Trondheim, Norway, by Haugen/Zohar. The children of Trondheim come to sit around the fire and tell stories in this whimsical cone hut, made with materials recycled from a construction site. (Photo by Jason Havneraas/The Guardian)

In this June 6, 1966 file photo, civil rights activist James Meredith pulls himself across Highway 51 after being shot in Hernando, Miss. Meredith, who defied segregation to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962, completed the march from Memphis, Tenn., to Jackson, Miss., after being treated for his wounds. (Photo by Jack Thornell/AP Photo)

A frosty sunset is seen through icicles in Peremilovo village, 65 km (40,6 miles) north of Moscow, Russia, Sunday, December 16, 2018. Temperatures in the Moscow region on Sunday dropped to –12 degree Celsius (10 Fahrenheit). (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo)

A runner takes part in the International World's coldest marathon at minus 53 degrees (–63.4 Fahrenheit) near Oymyakon, the republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutia, Russian Far East, Saturday, January 22, 2022. Sixty five runners, including athletes from the United Arab Emirates, United States and Belarus, started the run at extremely low temperature in Oymyakon, Yakutia's Pole of Cold. The international team of men and women ran full distance and half-marathon. (Photo by Ivan Nikiforov/AP Photo)

Jodie Ounsley who plays Fury in the British TV show Gladiators reacts after finishing the Women's Open Category race at the World Coal Carrying Championships in Ossett, West Yorkshire, England, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Photo by Jon Super/AP Photo)