Today's best photos: From the Horsehead Nebula to green turtles in Dubai

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

This undated handout obtained on November 2, 2023 from the European Space Agency ESA shows an alternative crop of astronomical image of a Horsehead Nebula taken during ESA's Euclid space mission, which is built and operated by the European Space Agency ESA and with contributions from NASA. The first images from Europe's Euclid space telescope were released on November 7, showing a nebula resembling a horse's head, never-before-seen distant galaxies and even "circumstantial evidence" of elusive dark matter. Euclid blasted off in July on the world's first-ever mission aiming to investigate the enduring cosmic mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. It will do so partly by charting one third of the sky -- encompassing a mind-boggling two billion galaxies -- to create what has been billed as the most accurate 3D map of the universe ever. (Photo by HANDOUT / ESA / Euclid / Euclid Consortium / NASA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ESA / EUCLID / EUCLID CONSORTIUM / NASA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A sculpture featuring shark fins on a painter's palette, part of a temporary art show by the Spanish artist Pejac in New York. EPA

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla pass activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic during the State Opening of Parliament in London. EPA

Firefighters work to control a blaze at the north blimp hangar at the former Marine Corps air station in Tustin, California. AP

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-27 mission launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. AP

French firefighters in a flooded street in Saint-Etienne-au-Mont in northern France after heavy rain caused the La Liane river to burst its banks. Reuters

A man walks his dogs on the beach in front of Teesside wind farm in Redcar, Britain. Reuters

Winter swimming enthusiasts take selfies at Beiling Park in Shenyang, China. AFP

A woman dressed in Qing dynasty costume walks along the moat outside the Forbidden City in Beijing. AFP

About a dozen hawksbill and green turtles were released by the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Antonie Robertson / The National

More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From Little Amal in Mexico to henna tattoos in Indonesia

Monday's best photos: From Sri Lanka's sacked cricket board to the Auroras in Russia

Sunday's best photos: From fans of Boca in Brazil to snow in Italy

Saturday's best photos: From Wet Sleddale Reservoir in the UK to National Unity Day in Italy

Friday's best photos: From Mexican Day of the Dead to Storm Ciaran hitting the UK

Thursday's best photos: From protest in Bangladesh to Storm Ciaran in western France