New stars are formed in the undulating clouds of M8, also commonly referred to as the Lagoon Nebula, situated some 5,000 light years from our planet. ENTRY: M8: Lagoon Nebula by Ivan Eder (Hungary)

 

The breathtaking sight of the Perseid Meteor shower shooting across the sky, swirling pink clouds of the Lagoon Nebula, and a mesmerizing lunar halo are among the awesome scenes captured by both amateur and professional photographers shortlisted in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 competition. The contest is held annually by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in Britain which received more than 4,500 entries from over 80 countries. 

Here’s a look at the 34 shortlisted images. Winning images for nine categories will be announced September 15: cbsnews.com