The International Space Station (ISS) glides across the sun, with spectacular close-ups of comets and exotic trees amidst rotating stars all selected as contenders for this year’s ZWO Astronomical Photographer of the Year Contest.

The image above is from Zhang Yanguang titled Meet Within 1 Second: It features a series of silhouetted shots of the ISS as it passes directly between Earth and the Sun. The expansive solar panels on the spacecraft, collecting energy from the very same star, are vividly visible. The photographer utilized dual optical filters to isolate specific wavelengths, showcasing the sharp details of the sun’s surface.

The image above showcases a close-up of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-atlas) captured by Gerald Leman and Michael Jäger in Namibia. The comet displays two distinct tails of dust and gas, which appear to be nearly overlapping due to solar wind effects.

The last image presented is titled Dragon Tree Trail, taken by Benjamin Barakat in the Famihin forest on Socotra Island, Yemen. The iconic Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena Cinnabari) stands prominently, framed by a stellar background crafted from 300 individual exposures.

This year’s competition saw more than 5,500 submissions from 69 nations. The top entries in nine categories, alongside two special awards and the overall victor, will be revealed on September 11th and displayed in an exhibition at London’s National Maritime Museum starting September 12th.