The most beautiful and spectacular views of the cosmos are sought

The initiative promoted by the Royal Observatory of Greenwich has applications open until March 6. To qualify for the £ 10,000 prize, participants can compete with up to 10 images.

There are nine main categories: Auroras; Galaxies; the moon; the sun; People and Space; Planets, Comets and Asteroids; all other Solar System; Landscapes of the sky; Stars and Nebulae; and Young Astrophotographer of the Year, for photographs taken by aspiring astronomers under the age of 16.

The Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020 also has two special awards: theSir Patrick Moore Award for Best Newcomer, for the best photograph taken by an amateur photographer who has started this hobby in the last year and has not yet participated in this contest; it's theAnnie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation, for images processed using existing open source data.

Photographers can apply via www.rmg.co.uk/astrocomp. The winning entries will be exhibited at the National Maritime Museum's annual exhibition.

tek site Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020