Ethereal images of the Milky Way showcased in new book

Astronomers throughout history have always marveled at the Milky Way and its dusky gaping voids. Astronomy and photography aficionados alike will therefore be captivated by the early photographs taken by masters Isaac Roberts and Edward Barnard in Springer's latest release, Shrouds of the Night: Masks of the Milky Way and Our Awesome New View of Galaxies.

Shrouds of the Night by David L. Block and Kenneth Freeman features previously unpublished historical material from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona and the archives of the Royal Astronomical Society of London and includes pioneering astronomical photographs by Roberts, Barnard, Keeler and others. For the first time these images are available, allowing the general public to see some of the first breathtaking photos ever taken of the Milky Way galaxy. David Block was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London at age 19. His first research paper, on relativistic astrophysics, was published in London, by the Royal Astronomical Society, at age 20. Professor Block is currently Director of the Anglo American Cosmic Dust Laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. In 2006, Professor Block received the University's highest research accolade: the Vice-Chancellor's Research Award. Professor Block's research has twice been featured on the cover of the prestigious scientific journal, 'Nature.' He was the Principal Investigator of a team of astronomers from Harvard University, the Observatoire de Paris and the University of the Witwatersrand who used the Spitzer Space Telescope to solve a 200 million year old riddle in our neighboring spiral galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy.

Ken Freeman FRS is Duffield Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University. He was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Oort Professor at Leiden University, Blaauw Professorat the University of Groningen and Tinsley Professor at the University of Texas. He is one of the first astronomers to show that spiral galaxies are immersed in a vast halo of dark matter, and is one of Australia's most highly cited scientists.

David L. Block, Kenneth Freeman
Shrouds of the Night: Masks of the Milky Way and Our Awesome New View of Galaxies 2009. 436 pages 204 illustrations, 20 in color.

Hardcover $39.95, £19.99, €29.95
ISBN 978-0-387-78974-3