Scroll down for some of the best news and sports pictures from around the world, brought to you by the Huffington Post's own picture editors Elliot Wagland, Matthew Tucker and Tahira Mirza:

live blog

Oldest Newest
MIRACLE BABY

poland baby

A baby girl which Polish sappers found on Wednesday abandoned on the road of an armored patrol in Waghez southern Afghanistan. Named by the troop Pola, for Poland, the baby girl has been examined by military doctors and was to be handed over to Afghan pediatricians and authorities. (AP Photo/Marcin Gil/Poland's Defense Ministry)

Share this:
BEATING THE RUSH

iphone queue

Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning on Thursday September 20, 2012

Loading Slideshow...

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    A customer celebrates after queuing outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    A customer celebrates after queuing outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • A customer shows her new iPhone 5 at the Apple store in Hong Kong Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. In a now-familiar ritual following Apple’s latest releases, the tech juggernaut’s fans jammed shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore on Friday to pick up the new iPhone 5. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

  • Staff members of Apple Inc. welcome customers as the Apple store in Hong Kong started selling iPhone 5 Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Apple's Asian fans jammed the tech juggernaut's shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore to pick up the latest version of its iPhone. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

  • Anthony Fitch displays his iPhone5 which he bought from the Apple store, in Paris, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. The latest version of the iphone went on sale Friday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Apple workers count money as a customer buys the new iPhone 5 at the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Customers enter the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Customers queue outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Apple workers count money as a customer buys the new iPhone 5 at the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    A customer holds two new iPhone 5's outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Apple workers count money as a customer buys the new iPhone 5 at the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Customers queue outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    A customer takes the new iPhone 5 off the shelf after queuing at the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London.

  • New iPhone goes on sale

    Customers queue outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as the new iPhone 5 goes on sale.

  • iPhone 5 Hits Australian Apple Stores

    SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 21: The iPhone 5 smartphone is displayed at the Apple flagship store on George street on September 21, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Australian Apple stores are the first in the world to receive and sell the new iPhone 5 handsets. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

  • JAPAN-US-TECHNOLOGY-COMPANY-APPLE-IPHONE

    A customer reacts after purchasing Apple's new iPhone 5 smartphone at the Softbank mobile phone shop in Tokyo on September 21, 2012. The iPhone 5 goes on sale on September 21 in Singapore, Sydney, US, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and Britain. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/GettyImages)

  • AUSTRALIA-US-TECHNOLOGY-COMPANY-APPLE-IPHONE

    Francis Le (2/L) and a handful of others stage a separate queue to highlight the 'folly of consumerism' as Apple start to sell their new iPhone 5 from their flagship store in Sydney, becoming one of the first countries in the world to offer the phone for sale, on September 21, 2012. Gadget lovers in Australia were the first to get their hands on the new generation iPhone 5, with the queues snaking around Apple's flagship store in Sydney suggesting another huge hit for the company. Le said 'There is no better example of the excesses of our consumer society than an iPhone launch.' AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages)

  • People wait in line to buy Apple Inc's iPhone 5 outside of an Apple store on Michigan avenue in Chicago, Thursday night, Sept. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

  • A customer tries on her new iPhone 5 at the Apple store in Hong Kong Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Apple's Asian fans jammed the tech juggernaut's shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore to pick up the latest version of its iPhone. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

  • Staff members of Apple Inc. welcome customers as the Apple store in Hong Kong started selling iPhone 5 Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Apple's Asian fans jammed the tech juggernaut's shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore to pick up the latest version of its iPhone. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

  • Customers cheer with staff members of Apple Inc. as the Apple store in Hong Kong started selling iPhone 5 Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Apple's Asian fans jammed the tech juggernaut's shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore to pick up the latest version of its iPhone. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

  • Customers and staff of Apple Inc. celebrate as its store started the sale of Apple's iPhone 5 in Tokyo Friday morning, Sept. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

  • Charity campers for new Apple iPhone 5

    Charity campers Peter King, 19 (left) and Ryan Williams 22, both from Kent, set up there tent outside the Apple store in Covent Garden in central London, where they hope to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by sleeping outside until the new Apple iPhone 5 goes on sale this coming Friday.

  • Charity campers for new Apple iPhone 5

    Charity campers Peter King, 19 (left) and Ryan Williams 22, both from Kent, set up there tent outside the Apple store in Covent Garden in central London, where they hope to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by sleeping outside until the new Apple iPhone 5 goes on sale this coming Friday.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Queues gather outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Ryan Williams (right) from Swanley and Peter King (2nd right) from Tunbridge queue first and second in line to raise money for Cancer Research outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday September 20, 2012. See PA story CONSUMER iPhone. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Ryan Williams (right) from Swanley and Peter King (2nd right) from Tunbridge queue first and second in line to raise money for Cancer Research outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday September 20, 2012. See PA story CONSUMER iPhone. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Ryan Williams (right) from Swanley and Peter King (2nd right) from Tunbridge queue first and second in line to raise money for Cancer Research outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday September 20, 2012. See PA story CONSUMER iPhone. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Ryan Williams (right) from Swanley and Peter King (2nd right) from Tunbridge queue first and second in line to raise money for Cancer Research outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • iPhone 5 launch

    Ryan Williams (2nd right) from Swanley and Peter King (right) from Tunbridge queue first and second in line to raise money for Cancer Research outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, ahead of the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow morning.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

  • Apple unveils new iPhone model

    Technology giant Apple has unveiled a raft of updated products including the latest model of its new iPhone. The iPhone 5, which weighs in at 112 grammes, has a 4in screen - half an inch bigger than previous models, at Kings Place, Central London.

Share this:
HELLO HOUSTON

space shuttle

Space Shuttle Endeavour is ferried by NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) over Houston, Texas on September 19, 2012. NASA pilots Jeff Moultrie and Bill Rieke are at the controls of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Photo taken by NASA photographer Sheri Locke in the backseat of a NASA T-38 chase plane with NASA pilot Thomas E. Parent at the controls. Photo Credit: NASA/ Sheri Locke

Share this:
DOWN THE HATCH

prince charles

A composite of the Prince of Wales pouring a pint of beer at the Cronx Brewary during a visit to Matthew's Yard in Croydon, London.

Share this:
EASY TIGER

tiger

A Amur tiger cub looks out of a basket during weighing in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Two Amur tiger babies were born in July 20, 2012. The still nameless tigers have achieved a weight of about 9 kilogram in the meantime. The Amur tiger is the largest living felid. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Share this:
SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

obama with pirate

The presidential Twitter feed @BarackObama, posted a picture of the Obama meeting a man dressed with comedy beard, eyepatch and parrot at the White House, in celebration of International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Share this:
PAYING THEIR RESPECTS

manchester shooting

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Shadow Police Minister David Hanson lay floral tributes for the Police Officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes who were killed on Tuesday in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.

Share this:
FATHER AND SON TIME

mitt romney

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, center, hugs his son, Craig Romney, after introducing his father at a campaign stop at the Dade County Youth Fair and Exposition's Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald/MCT via Getty Images)

Loading Slideshow...

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to supporters before he makes a speech in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney, Craig Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney hugs his son Craig as he campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to supporters in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to supporters in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Supporters cheer as Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to supporters in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters after his speech to them in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to supporters in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to supporters before he makes a speech in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney, Craig Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns with his son Craig at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters after his speech in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Craig Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and son Craig Romney campaign at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Supporters cheer as Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Craig Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns with son Craig Romney at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at a rally at Darwin Fuchs Pavilion in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Jorge Ramos, Maria Elena Salinas

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in a Univision "Meet the Candidates" forum with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Jorge Ramos, Maria Elena Salinas

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in a Univision "Meet the Candidates" forum with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in a Univision "Meet the Candidates" forum with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Jorge Ramos, Maria Elena Salinas

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in a Univision "Meet the Candidates" forum with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney, Jorge Ramos, Maria Elena Salinas

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in a Univision "Meet the Candidates" forum with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in Miami, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Rebecca Fernandez

    Rebecca Fernandez of Miami protests outside of the University of Miami where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was attending a Meet the Candidates forum held by Univision, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    Supporters cheer US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney hugs his son Craig at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his son Craig arrive at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: A banner plane flies above the University of Miami carrying a sign reading 'Hey Mitt, We're Voters, Not Victims' as Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participates in the Univision 'Meet the Candidates' forum at the Bank United Field House at the University of Miami, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

    US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign rally in Miami on September 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets supporters during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney smiles during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Mitt Romney Attends 2 Campaign Events In Miami

    MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to supporters during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, on September 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Romney continues to campaign for votes around the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Share this:
ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012

astronomy competition

The winner of this year's Astronomy Photographer Of The Year competition at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich - Martin Pugh' photograph shows the M51 galaxy.

An exhibition of all the winners opens on Thursday at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Loading Slideshow...

  • M51

    Astronomer Will Gater said of Pugh's photo: "It's arguably one of the finest images of M51 ever taken by an amateur astronomer".

  • Simeis 147 Supernova Remnant

    Runner-up, deep space

  • NGC 6960 - The Witch's Broom

    Highly commended, Deep Space

  • Star Icefall

    Winner, Earth & Space

  • Sky Away From The LightsTunc Tezel

    Earth and Space, Highly Commended

  • Green World

    Runner-up, Earth & Space

  • Summer Nights in Michigan

    Highly Commended, Earth And Space

  • The Milky Way view from the Piton de l'eau

    Earth & Space, highly commended

  • Transit of Venus 2012 in Hydrogen Alpha

    Winner, Our Solar System

  • Comet C2009 P1

    Highly Commended, Our Solar System

  • Ghost of the Cepheus Flare

    Highly Commended, Deep Space

  • Deep Space: IC 1396 - Elephant-Trunk Nebula © Bill Snyder (USA) This picture shows the column of dust known as the 'Elephant's Trunk' in the constellation of Cepheus. Deep within the dense clumps of dust and gas that make up the 'trunk' new stars are currently forming.

  • Earth and Space: Double Arch with a Perseid Meteor and the Milky Way © Thomas O'Brien (USA) A meteor captured streaking across the sky above Arches National Park, Utah, during the annual Perseid meteor shower. The Perseids is one of the most prolific showers, often with around 80 meteors an hour during its peak. Nevertheless, meteors are hard to catch on camera. The photographer has used an artificial light source to illuminate and emphasise the dramatic rock formations.

  • Earth and Space: Sky Show © Tommy Eliassen (Norway) The dazzling Aurora Borealis over Høgtuva Mountain in Norway. The Earth's magnetic field funnels particles from the Solar Wind down over the planet's polar regions. More than 80 kilometres above the ground, these particles collide with atoms and molecules of gas in our atmosphere, causing them to glow in the characteristic colours of green and pale red for oxygen and crimson for nitrogen.

  • Earth and Space: Sky away from the Lights © Tunç Tezel (Turkey) A view from the Uludag National Park in Turkey. The Milky Way stretches across the sky above the manmade pockets of hazy lights from the towns and villages below.

  • Deep Space: The Smoking Sword © Michael Sidonio (Australia) To the naked eye the Orion Nebula appears as a small patch of hazy light amongst the stars of Orion's sword. The true scale and complexity of the Nebula only becomes apparent when viewed through a telescope. In the centre of the nebula newly-formed stars blast their surroundings with radiation, carving out a cavity in the dust and causing the hydrogen gas to glow pink.

  • Deep Space: Cygnus © J-P Metsävainio (Finland) This mosaic image reveals a huge swathe of the sky in the constellation of Cygnus. Huge clouds of colourful glowing gas and lanes of dark dust stretch across the field of view. Their light is too faint to register with the human eye, but long exposure times and special filters allow us to appreciate their grandeur and scale.

  • Our Solar System: Active Sol © Paul Haese (Australia) This image shows solar activity including a huge solar prominence. 2012 saw the Sun moving towards the peak of its eleven year-cycle of activity following an unusually long and quiet lull. Sunspots, explosive flares and prominences are much more common than in previous years.

  • Our Solar System: Sunny Airlines © Dunja Zupanic (Croatia) A chance alignment superimposes a jet and its twin vapour trails against the disc of the Sun. Also visible is an enormous sunspot complex, a region of the Sun's surface in which intense magnetic fields are suppressing the upwelling of heat from the solar interior. Sunspot activity has been increasing in 2012 as the Sun approaches the peak of its eleven year-cycle.

  • Our Solar System: 116 megapixel Moon Mosaic © David Campbell (UK) A multi-image mosaic of the Moon, which is our nearest neighbour in space and therefore appears larger in our sky than any other astronomical object apart from the Sun. Even a telescope of quite modest magnification will only show a part of the Moon's surface at one time, meaning that multi-image mosaics such as this are needed to show large areas of its surface.

  • People and Space: It's Raining Stars © Miguel Claro (Portugal) This time-lapse shows how the stars appear to move across the sky as the Earth rotates. In a humorous touch, an observer appears to use an umbrella to shelter from the star trails, whilst Jupiter is also visible on the right of the silhouette.

  • Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Stargazers © Jessica Caterson (UK), AGED 15 This is a self-portrait of the photographer (far right) with her friends at her caravan site in the Gower Peninsular, Wales. Several short exposures were aligned and combined to capture the crisp stars and dark sky, while minimising trailing due to the Earth's rotation; the visible progress of the aeroplane in the upper right reveals this process. Adding the final frame of the backlit friends gives context to the scene.

Share this:
SPIRITUAL SNAKES

cobra

An Indian Hindu devotee performs prayers over a cobra during a Nag-Panchami ritual at a Shiva Temple in Jammu. The Hindu festival of Nag-Panchami is observed during the monsoon season and devotees give prayers and tributes to snakes.

Share this:
TOKYO GAME SHOW

star wars

Darth Vader and Storm Troopers pose for visitors for the demonstration of the Star Wars videogame software at the software developer Konami's booth during the annual Tokyo Game Show in Chiba, suburban Tokyo. Some 200 companies exhibited their latest video game hardware and software with some 200,000 people expected to visit the four-day vent.

Share this:
PHILIPPINES POVERTY HOUSING DEMOLITION

philippines

Residents throw petrol bombs at private security guards enforcing a demolition order of an informal settlers area to give way for a high-end housing development in Manila. More than two million people in Metro Manila -- or roughly one fifth of the sprawling city's population -- live in shanty towns as so-called informal settlers.

Share this:
INDIAN PROTESTS

protest

Indian railway policemen try to remove a burning effigy representing the Indian government during a protest along railway tracks in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Angry opposition workers have disrupted train services as part of a daylong strike in India to protest rising diesel prices and the government's decision to open the country's huge retail market to foreign companies. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Share this: