<p>A lone photographer stands in Moab, Utah, silhouetted against a night sky that reveals the Andromeda galaxy, the Milky Way galaxy, and the moon.</p>

A lone photographer stands in Moab, Utah, silhouetted against a night sky that reveals the Andromeda galaxy, the Milky Way galaxy, and the moon.

Photograph by Brad Goldpaint

These are the best astronomy photographs of 2018

From an otherworldly landscape in Utah to a blazing detail of the sun, these images showcase the beauty and mystery of the universe.

A gorgeous photograph of the night sky can enchant even the weariest of souls. It can reveal galaxies, meteors, and otherworldly light. But to get such an image requires extreme calibration. The weather needs to be just right, as does the camera setting. A tripod is a must. Patience and practice are key.

Then, if the stars align, what could have been a ho-hum picture of the darkness suddenly becomes a brilliant portrait of the cosmos.

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