The astronomy photographer of the year awarded to Brad Goldpaint

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, has released its selection of the best photos of the night sky this year after thousands of professional and amateur snappers fought for the $ 18,000 first prize and the title of Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

American photographer Brad Goldpaint, who captivated the judges with his awesome photo of a man standing under the milky way at the edge of a cliff, overlooks a vast rock formation in the east of the island. 39; Utah.

"This beautiful image is emblematic of everything that means being an astrophotographer; the balance between light and darkness, textures and contrasting tones of earth and sky and the photographer alone under a starry vault of a scale and beauty to cut the breath, "said Judge Will Gater.

The award also featured photos of the breathtaking Northern Lights captured over a Norwegian Lofoten archipelago fjord, the total solar eclipse of August, and the remarkable planet parade of our system. solar, observed from the background, and the faint cloud of gas known as the Witch Head Nebula.

Fabian Dalpiaz, a 15-year-old Italian photographer, won the award for Young photographer of astronomy of the year for his amazing photo of a meteor pbading over the beautiful landscape of the Alpe di Siusi.

Australian Peter Ward was also rewarded for his image of the total solar eclipse on Wyoming in the United States in August. Image: provided.

Melanie Vandenbrouck, curator of the Royal Museums in Greenwich, said choosing a winner was "extremely difficult".

The contest received more than 4,200 entries from 91 countries. The best photos will be exhibited as part of an exhibition at the London Maritime Museum.

"Their fascinating, often astonishing photographs show us the exquisite complexity of space and emotionally convey our place in the universe," she said.

The competition will run again in 2019, for more information, visit www.rmg.co.uk/astrophoto