A selection of entries from this year's competition, held atthe Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Overall winner of the astronomy photographer of the year award, and winner of the earth and space prize
Photograph: Tom Lowe/National Maritime Museum
Blazing Bristlecone, Tom Lowe, White Mountains, California, 14 August 2009. An ancient bristlecone pine stands before the Milky Way as a meteor streaks the sky. The lighting effect on the tree in the foreground was actually caused by accident when the photographer was setting his equipment up.
People and space award winner
Photograph: Steve Christenson/National Maritime Museum
Photon Worshippers, Steve Christenson, 23 December 2009. For a few weeks every year the setting sun is in the correct position to shine directly through this portal in a large rock formation at Pfeiffer beach in Big Sur, California.
Winner of the Our Solar System award
Photograph: Anthony Ayiomamitis /National Maritime Museum
Siberian Totality, Anthony Ayiomamitis (Greece). Taken during a total eclipse of the sun, this image reveals the faint solar corona usually hidden by the photosphere. The long streamers and prominences show the sun's activity beyond the surface, reaching out into the solar system.
Winner of the deep space prize
Photograph: Rogelio Bernal Andreo /National Maritime Museum
Orion Deep Wide Field, Rogelio Bernal Andreo California, US, 10 June 2010. A panorama of a section of the constellation of Orion, including the three famous stars of the belt, the Horsehead nebula and the Orion nebula.
Primal Wonder.
Photograph: Larry Andreasen/National Maritime Museum
The Sword and the Rose (Orion's Sword and M42)
Photograph: Marcus Davies/National Maritime Museum
Winner of best newcomer
Photograph: Ken Mackintosh/National Maritime Museum
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), Ken Mackintosh (UK). Drawn together by gravity, two galaxies interact. Eventually the smaller galaxy will be torn apart or swallowed by the larger one - a process that will take millions of years.
Surrounded by Space
Photograph: Fredrik Broms/National Maritime Musuem
Whisper of the Wind
Photograph: Dave Brosha/National Maritime Museum
Solstice Full Moon Over Sounion
Photograph: Anthony Ayiomamitis/National Maritime Museum
Winner, young astronomy photographer 2010
Photograph: Dhruv Arvind Paranjpye/National Maritime Museum
A Perfect Circle, Dhruv Arvind Paranjpye (India, aged 14). A solar eclipse photographed in India in 2009. The light around the edge of the circle is the sun's atmosphere, or corona, only visible during an eclipse. The photographer has used the dark clouds to act as a filter.
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