“Herschel 36, the Heart of the Lagoon” by László Francsics

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2015

6 August 2015 Astronomy Now

Situated some 5,000 light-years away, the stellar nursery of the Lagoon Nebula lies in the constellation of Sagittarius. Despite being so far away, the Lagoon Nebula is in fact one of the few star-forming nebulae that it is possible to see with the naked eye in optimum conditions from mid-northern and southern latitudes. Image credit: © László Francsics / Royal Museums Greenwich. (Click image for full-size version.)
Situated some 5,000 light-years away, the stellar nursery of the Lagoon Nebula lies in the constellation of Sagittarius. Despite being so far away, the Lagoon Nebula is in fact one of the few star-forming nebulae that it is possible to see with the naked eye under optimal conditions from mid-northern and southern latitudes. Image credit: © László Francsics / Royal Museums Greenwich. (Click image for full-size version.)
The Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is an annual celebration of the most beautiful and spectacular visions of the cosmos by astrophotographers worldwide. In 2015 the competition launched for its seventh year, with new categories and more prizes up for grabs. With over 2700 spectacular entries from over 60 countries, it’s been the toughest year yet for the judges.

Over the coming weeks we will feature, in no particular order, each of the final 16 selected images and winners will be announced by Royal Museums Greenwich on 17 September. The winning images are to be showcased at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in an exhibition opening 18 September.

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“The Arrow Missed the Heart” by Lefteris Velissaratos

20 September 2015 Astronomy Now

A stunning juxtaposition of an ethereal solar system body, long-period comet C/2014 E2 Jacques, and the vast, heart-shaped emission nebula IC 1805, some 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia — winning image of the Planets, Comets & Asteroids category in the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition 2015.

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See a summer solstice full Moon rising tonight

20 June 2016 Ade Ashford

Look low to the south-southeast at 11:35pm BST tonight and, if the current British “monsoon” clears, you will see the full Moon rising at dusk at the instant the 2016 summer solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. The last time that this happened on the same UK day was 22 June 1967.