Astronomy Photographer of the Year judges explain how to get involved in astrophotography

Omega (ω) Centauri, or NGC 5139, is the brightest and largest globular cluster. This showpiece object of the southern sky is captured here in all its glory by astrophotographer Ignacio Diaz Bobillo — winning image of the Stars & Nebulae category in the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition 2015.

The prestigious Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is an annual celebration of the most beautiful and spectacular visions of the cosmos by astrophotographers worldwide. Now in its seventh year, the 2015 competition received 2700 spectacular entries from over 60 countries and the winners will be announced 17 September.

The natural light of the Milky Way battles with the light pollution over the fishing village, or kelong, in Batu Pahat, Malaysia. In the lower right hand corner, there is also bioluminescence in the waters at the bottom of the kelong.