A Mayo astro-photographer has been chosen for the next stage of the prestigious ‘Reach for the Stars’ astrophotography competition.

Shane Lavelle, from Castlebar, has been shortlisted in the ‘Back to Earth’ category for his image ‘Wild Atlantic Milky Way.’

The competition aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland over the past year, and is run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).

While a high-profile judging panel will select the overall winning entries in the coming weeks, an online vote was launched today (June 12), so members of the public can also have their say.

All shortlisted images can now be viewed on the ‘Reach for the Stars’ website, www.reachforthestars.ie, and members of the public can cast their vote for their favourite image.