AN EXHIBITION SHOWCASING amazing photographs of the solar system is currently taking place at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin.

The images on show will feature Irish winners of the International Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, which is organised by the Greenwich Observatory in London.

Check out these incredible photos of the solar system

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Four planets
Swords, Co Dublin. A composite image of Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.Source: John McKeon
Aurora
Downings, Co DonegalSource: Brendan Alexander
Moon
Monasterevin, Co KildareSource: Michael O'Connell
The Elephant's Trunk
Southeast SpainSource: Brendan Kinch
Milky Way
Hook Head peninsula, Co Wexford.Source: Michael Legris
The diamond ring effect
TurkeySource: Dave Lillis

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The free exhibition, which runs until 21 February, is organised by the Dublin-based Irish Astronomical Society (IAS) and the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies (IFAS).

John Dolan of the IAS said many of the images were taken using standard consumer DSLR cameras.

Observing and taking photos of what appears in the sky at night is a fascinating hobby which is becoming more popular in Ireland. Telescopes can now be obtained at reasonable cost and recent advances in digital photography have made taking photographs of the night sky more accessible.

Broadcaster Leo Enright launched the exhibition. He said the show gives members of the public a rare opportunity to view “many intriguing photographs of the solar system, our galaxy the Milky Way and other galaxies”.

More information on the exhibition is available here.

Read: A different perspective: 10 images of ‘nature’s most exquisite creation’

Read: Check out these images of 19th century Ireland

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