The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022 competition has revealed this year’s shortlisted photos from all over the globe.

Competition for the World’s Greatest Space Photography

The prestigious contest received over 3,000 entries from amateurs and professionals submitted from 67 countries worldwide. Now running for the fourteenth year, the competition features an expert panel of judges from the art and astronomy world.

Photographers compete across nine categories — Skyscapes, Aurorae, People and Space, Our Sun, Our Moon, Planets, Comets and Asteroids, Stars and Nebulae, Galaxies, and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year for budding astronomers under the age of 16, in addition to the coveted Astronomy Photographer of the Year 14 title for the overall winner. The judges will also award two special prizes — The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer and The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation.

All winners will be announced at an online award ceremony on September 15, 2022, with the winning photos also exhibited in the National Maritime Museum alongside a selection of shortlisted entries.

The prize pool consists of a £10,000 cash prize for the overall winner and £1,500 for all other category winners. Runners-up and highly commended entries will receive £500 and £250, respectively, while the Special Prize winners will be awarded £750. All winning photographers will also receive a one-year subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

Below are this year’s shortlisted entries:

Annie Maunder Prize

Aurorae

Galaxies

Our Moon

People and Space

Planets, Comets, and Asteroids

Sir Patrick Moore Prize

Skyscapes

Stars and Nebulae

Our Sun

Young Astronomy Photographer

More information about the competition can be found on the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

Image credits: All photos individually credited and provided courtesy of Royal Museums Greenwich.