Greenwich’s Royal Observatory is leading the way to find the most spectacular images of the cosmos.

The observatory has teamed up with the BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine and Insight Investment for the seventh Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

The global search has nine major categories, including for pictures of the aurora, the moon, stars, sun, planets, comets, asteroids and for young photographers.

Judge and public astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Dr Marek Kukula, said: “Over the last six years of the competition we’ve seen some really exciting and beautiful themes and subjects emerging from the astrophotography community.

“As always, there are bound to be some surprises.”

Entries must be submitted by April 16 and the winning images will be shown at an annual free exhibition at the Royal Observatory from September 18.

Go to rmg.co.uk/astrophoto. Photographers can submit up to five images.

Check out some of the winning entries from last year below:

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Aurora over a Glacier Lagoon © James Woodend (UK) – WINNER & OVERALL WINNER

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DEEP SPACE: The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) © Bill Snyder (USA) – WINNER

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OUR SOLAR SYSTEM: Ripples in a Pond © Alexandra Hart (UK) - WINNER

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YOUNG ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) © Shishir & Shashank Dholakia (USA) – WINNER

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PEOPLE & SPACE: Lost Souls © Julie Fletcher (Australia) – RUNNER UP

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ROBOTIC SCOPE: NGC 3718 © Mark Hanson (USA)