These Incredible Photographs Of Space Will Leave You in Awe. Whoa.

Every year, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, in England, holds a photography contest for the best images of space. They invite astrophotographers from all over the world to submit their best images of astronomical phenomena, from the night sky to distant stars.

The contest has four categories: Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year. There are also special prizes given out, including People and Space, a prize for best photo taken with a robotic scope, and a prize for the best newcomer. This way, the diverse subject matter can all be honored. We chose 15 of our favorite shots from across the categories, but there are way more where that came from. You can also check out last year’s winners as well.

The overall winner was UK-based photographer James Woodend, with his stunning image of the aurora over an icy lagoon.

These photos are just a reminder of how small we are. They also show us just how beautiful the Universe is. We may be a small part of its beauty, but we’re still part of it.