Heavenly beauty: Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2012

By Dilip -
This year's Astronomy Photographer of the Year, run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in association with Sky at Night Magazine, received a record number of entries from amateurs and professional photographers from around the globe. The awards will be announced on 19 September and an exhibition of the winning entries will open at the observatory on 20 September: 
Royal Observatory awards: ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ATTHE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
The aurora borealis over Høgtuva Mountain in Norway.

 Royal Observatory awards: ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ATTHE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
The Milky Way from the Uludag National Park in Turkey

Royal Observatory awards: ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ATTHE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
A meteor streaks across the sky above Arches National Park in Utah

Royal Observatory awards: ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ATTHE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
The Orion Nebula. 

Royal Observatory awards: ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ATTHE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
 'St Michael's Abbey', perched 1,000 metres up on Mount Pirchiriano in northern Italy

See more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2012/sep/07/astronomy-photographer-year-2012-pictures#/?picture=395093955&index=0

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