<p id="docs-internal-guid-660316f0-3dc3-a351-9ddf-6369b024dd6e" dir="ltr"><strong>A lighthouse beacon stands guard beneath the star-studded Milky Way arching over New Zealand's Cape Palliser coastline, as seen in this overall winning photograph from the Royal Observatory's 2013 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.</strong></p><p dir="ltr">Australian Marc Gee—who also grabbed top prize for the Earth and Space category—impressed the judges by capturing a tremendous depth and clarity in this stunning snapshot.</p><p dir="ltr">"I love the tranquil combination of sea and sky in this beautiful image, along with the comforting human element of the cliff-top lighthouse," said Marek Kukula, competition judge and Royal Observatory Public Astronomer.</p><p dir="ltr">"This view from the shores of New Zealand makes me think of the long voyages the Maori's ancestors made into uncharted oceans, guided by the stars."</p><p dir="ltr">Now in its fifth year, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition selected winners in seven categories from more than 1,200 entries from 48 countries.</p><p><em> —Andrew Fazekas</em></p>