Wild Nature 2015: The Year's Most Mind Blowing Pictures
From stargazers turning their eyes heavenward to witness a once-in-a-lifetime Blood Moon Eclipse, to animal right's campaigners victory over SeaWorld, it's been a phenomenal year for our planet and beyond!
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1. British astronaut Tim Peake trains for his six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
On 15 December, the talented space enthusiast will be launched into the unknown to spend half a year aboard the International Space Station. As if this wasn't intense enough, Peake is finally coming to the end of the gruelling training schedule required of anyone who is to make such a daredevil trip! We think it's fair to say, the boy from Sussex, done good! Picture: PA
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2. Legislation phasing out the captivity of killer whales is finally proposed.
Whale fans the world over rejoiced to learn that the 'Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act' was proposed to end the captivity of killer whales. The bill will ban whales being taken from wild, as well as making breeding, importing and exporting the animals for public display illegal and ensure that orcas now at aquatic parks such as SeaWorld are the last ones to suffer this fate. Picture: PA
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3. Blood Moon Eclipse
On 28 September 2015, a rare Total Lunar Eclipse of a Super Full Moon was be visible from most of North America, South America, Europe, West Asia and parts of Africa. The results, we think you'll agree, were pretty SPECTACULAR! Picture: Getty
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4. London shrouded in cloud.
This photo was taken by Sarah Wells from a plane and perfectly captures some of the eerie Victorian-esq fog we had around the United Kingdom in late October this year. Walking around town felt like we were stepping into the pages of a Dickensian novel…no? Just us? Okay then. Picture: Twitter
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5. A weasel riding on flying woodpecker…duh!
Undeniably one of the most famous pictures of the year, this little weasel hitching a ride off of a flying woodpecker made headlines across the nation. We think it's rather cute. Picture: Youtube
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6. The Supermoon rises over Glastonbury tor.
Have you ever seen a moon so big? …because we haven't! This GIGANTIC moon is a little bit of a cheat however, as it's actually a Supermoon. We think it looks completely magical with the mystical Glastonbury for silhouetted against it. Picture: Getty
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7. Two seagulls take on an eagle mid-flight!
This astounding photograph has to be one of the most shocking pictures of nature in action to appear this year. Who would have thought that seagulls would ever take on such a mighty competitor, but this picture proves otherwise. Picture: Caters
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8. Spectacular pictures of Pluto reveal the planet's secrets.
Scientists have been left astonished after Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft captures dramatic landscape of towering ice mountains, rolling plains, and icebergs floating in frozen lakes. Twitter: NASA
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9. A deeply frozen lake in Cleaveland, USA.
Global Warming warnings don't always mean basking in glorious sunshine for months on end. Yep, we hate to break it to you, but it can also mean humidity levels rising or even temperatures sharply dropping. This amazing photograph show ice from Lake Erie that has formed on a pedestrian walkway as the city of Cleveland, America. Picture: PA
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10. This beautifully captured moment of a ladybird landing on a frog is perfection.
Love nothing more than snuggling up on the sofa watching the latest David Attenborough show? Well this picture should do it for you. Our top tip: Catch the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at London's Natural History Museum now. Picture: Thinkstock
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11. Will there be life on Mars? NASA announces brand new discovery.
There could potentially be life on Mars if new research by NASA is anything to go by. Scientists at the space centre revealed today they've found evidence of flowing water which runs down the canyons and crater walls over the summer months, supporting theories that the red planet could be home to living organisms. Forget the moon! Man could be visiting Mars next!
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12. Magical Rainbow in Tynemouth at dusk.
It might seem like night time, but this rainbow manages to appear over the lighthouse at Tynemouth just as the sun sets, thanks to the crashing waves and jet sprays of water. Picture: PA
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13. The Aurora Borealis were visible from the Lake District!
You might associate The Northern Lights with exotic Wintery countries like Iceland and Greenland, but this year they were actually apparent to the naked eye over Derwent water near Keswick. No way! Picture: PA
