2010 winner “Blazing Bristlecone” by Tom Lowe

A Friday picture for a little bit of wonder after a traumatic week here in London: judging in underway in the 2011 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition organised by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

Entries will be assessed in four categories: winners to be announced on the 8th September and go on display at the Royal Observatory on the 9th. You can see a gallery of some of this year’s entrants at the Guardian

The Royal Observatory is in Greenwich Park and is part of the National Maritime Museum. It is the site of the Prime Meridian and visitors may join a very long line to stand either side of the Greenwich Meridian Line. The Observatory buildings also include Flamsteed House, the original observing building, the UK’s largest refracting telescope and several galleries, hosting exhibitions on time, longitude, astronomy and a special exhibition until August 29th on Impact: collisions and catastrophes. Entry to some galleries is free: tickets for full access £7. Open 10am – 5pm, daily.