An Italian photographer travelled to Chile where he visited several star-gazing sites, home to some of the world's most advanced telescopes, located in the spectacular setting of the Atacama desert. Surrounded by vast desert and distant snow topped mountains, the enormous satellite dishes, dome-shaped buildings and telescopes are run by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) , an intergovernmental body dedicated to observing space. Photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza was granted access to several observatory sites.
A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
An Australian explorer has travelled the globe with a toy pig, known as Travel Piggy, in search of a missing cuddly companion .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
An intrepid explorer hopes to be reunited with his travel partner, after his cuddly toy companion was stolen .
THESE kingfishers prove no rod is needed as they go fishing for their dinner .
A pair of chicks bravely decided to befriend a python, despite being the snake's favourite choice of food .
In the calm waters of Greenland, gigantic icebergs dwarf everything around them .
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .