Stunning images of night sky revealed as the Royal Observatory Greenwich announces shortlist for Astronomy Photographer of the Year

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has revealed the shortlist for its Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

Entries include spectacular shots of the Milky Way seen from Dorset's Jurassic Coast and Yosemite Valley in California, sweeping views of the Northern Lights, and star formations.

The competition is made up of several categories, including Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space, People and Space, there is also the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year category for entrants under 16.

The overall winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 will be awarded £1,500 in prize money while various amounts will be given to winners in the other categories.

Space-scientist and TV presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Editor of Sky at Night Magazine Chris Bramley, and the Royal Observatory’s Public Astronomer Dr Marek Kukula will be among this year's judges.

The awards will be announced on 18 September and an exhibition featuring the winning entries will open on 19 September

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Photographers on the Rim of Myvatn Craters by James Woodend

Eta Carinae and her Keyhole by Michael Sidonio

Orion Nebula by Nik Szymanek

Comet Panstarrs by Ingólfur Bjargmundsson

Hunter’s Moon over the Alps by Stefano De Rosa

Herbig-Haro Objects in the Pelican Nebula by Andre van der Hoeven