Picture credit: Tom Lowe
Photographers worldwide are urged to enter Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 which has opened for entries today.
Run in association with Sky at Night Magazine, and photo-sharing website Flickr, the contest boasts a top prize of £1,500.
There are four main categories for 2011: Earth and Space; Our Solar System; Deep Space and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year (open to photographers aged under 16).
This year?s special categories are: People and Space, Best Newcomer and Robotic Scope Image of the Year.
American astrophotographer Tom Lowe took last year?s title with a photo entitled Blazing Bristlecone (see above).
The results will be announced in September.
