Between SpaceX launching its first civilian space flight and various billionaires gleefully propelling themselves into orbit, the possibility of visiting the great beyond has never felt closer.
But, let’s be honest here — the closest most of us will get is a photo.
Fortunately there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring space shots out there, as is evidenced today by the winners of London’s Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021 being announced.
We already knew from the 25 finalists that things were going to be good, and the winners and runners-up — selected from 4,500 entries and broken down by category below — certainly don’t disappoint.
From the overall winning image of an annual solar eclipse to stunning shots of skyscapes and the aurorae, it’s time to buckle up and reach for those stars…
Overall winner
Credit: Shuchang Dong
Aurorae
Credit: Dmitrii Rybalka
Credit: Thomas Kast
Galaxies
Credit: Zhong Wu
Credit: Russell Croman
Our Moon
Credit: Nicolas Lefaudeux
Credit: Göran Strand
People and Space
Credit: Deepal Ratnayaka
Credit: André van der Hoeven
Planets, Comets and Asteroids
Credit: Frank Kuszaj
Credit: Damian Peach
Skyscapes
Credit: Jeffrey Lovelace
Credit: Dario Giannobile
Stars and Nebulae
Credit: Terry Hancock
Credit: Bogdan Borz
Young Competition
Credit: 至璞 王 (Zhipu Wang)
Credit: Hassaana Begam and Aathilah Maryam. H
Special Prize: The Manju Mehrotra Family Trust Prize for Best Newcomer
Credit: Paul Eckhardt
Special Prize: Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation
Credit: Leonardo Di Maggio
Credit: Sergio Díaz Ruiz
If you want to view the images up close, the exhibition opens at London’s National Maritime Museum from Sept. 18.
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