Participants react as they try to reach the top of a greased pole to collect the prizes, during a “Panjat Pinang” competition, that is held to celebrate Indonesia's 79th Independence Day at Ancol in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters)

Spain's #02 Tania Moreno Matveeva digs the ball in the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on August 5, 2024. (Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP Photo)

A protester attends a rally against the government and to show support for the hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel on September 1, 2024. (Photo by Florion Goga/Reuters)

Finding just the right spot above the clouds at Camp 1 on Ama Dablam, Danuru Sherpa uses his iPhone to catch up with friends and family. Even at 18,500 feet (5,654 meters), climbers here can check their email and other dispatches from the world below. (Photo by Aaron Huey/National Geographic)

Udomsak Ratanotayo, left, and Suttinan Boonsomkiat wear storm trooper costumes while donating blood at the Thai Red Cross in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, April 28, 2014. Thai Star Wars fans will donate blood and give toys at an orphanage as part of a promotional campaign. (Photo by Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo)

Revellers celebrate moments before the rocket fire or “Txupinazo” marks the start of the Festival of San Fermin (or Sanfermines) at Consistorio square in Pamplona, Spain, 06 July 2014. The annual nine day long running-with-the-bulls fiesta commemorates St. Fermin, Pamplona's patron saint. (Photo by Javier Lizin/EFE)

In this Sunday, April 6, 2014 photo, Valery Palma prepares to blow out the candle on a birthday cake for her one-year-old dachshund Camila, at Camila's birthday party in Mexico City. Palma, who has two dogs, spent $300 on the birthday party for 11 canines and 16 people, complete with cake, presents and snacks, at a dog hotel featuring a gym and massage and aromatherapy services. (Photo by Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo)

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.