In his 1999 book Stardust, British author Neil Gaiman wonders if “we’re human because we look at the stars, or do we look at the stars because we’re human?”. The night sky has always fascinated us and drawn our gaze upwards – so it’s no surprise that it’s the subject of a photography competition organised by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.

The Insight Investment’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has just recently announced the winners of their 2018 edition in all of their twelve categories. The award-winning photos can all be found in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, but you can see some highlights of this year’s winners in the gallery down below.

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19 February 2020, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Aulendorf: Corner witches of the fool guild Aulendorf dance around a fire in the early evening below the castle. The mystical mask conjuration at the Hexeneck is part of the foolish tradition. That night the fools awoke from their sleep. Until Ash Wednesday the fool's freedom is now valid in the tranquil Upper Swabian town of Aulendorf. Photo: Felix Kästle/dpa (Photo by Felix Kästle/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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