Ancient Stardust

Ancient Stardust: In early summer there’s a spectacle to watch on Corsica, says Gianni Krattli. The Milky Way is visible in all its glory in the Mediterranean night sky. In this picture our galaxy stretches across the night sky above the Genoese tower of Lozari – a coastal defence constructed by the Republic of Genoa between 1530 and 1620 to stem the attacks by Barbary pirates.  Image: © Gianni Krattli.

This spectacular image by Gianni Krattli from France, is just one of this year’s Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition entrants released in a sneak peek by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

If you are interested in submitting pictures, you have until 12pm UK time on 7 April to be in with a chance of winning the £10,000 first prize award. The winning images will be featured in an exhibition  at the Royal Observatory which opens on 16 September 2017.

Photographers can enter their images online by visiting www.rmg.co.uk/astrophoto, where full competition rules and some top tips on photographing everything from star trails to galaxies and nebulae are also available.