Stars burn brightly for China in astronomy photo competition
Staring into space has proved to be a particularly productive use of time for five Chinese photographers after their works were among 38 images from all over the world shortlisted for the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021.
This year's staging of the competition run by the world-famous London observatory is the 13th, and drew more than 4,500 entries from professional and amateur photographers in 75 different countries and regions.
Star Fall, by Wang Zheng, features starlight reflected off the columns of a metal sculpture in the Tengger Desert in Gansu province, with the camera placed at ground level within the sculpture, pointing to the heavens.
Star trails over the Lujiazui City Skyline, by Daning Kai, was taken on a clear night last October, showing how even in a city suffering from heavy light pollution, the wonders of the night sky can still be appreciated.