Images Dated 14th August 2009

Krakatoa sunsets, 1883 artworks

Krakatoa sunsets. Artwork of the spectacular red and orange sunsets caused in London, England, by the August 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, a volcano thousands of kilometres away in Indonesia. The ash thrown up by the eruption caused sunsets like these for years afterwards. These three artworks are a sequence, showing twilight and afterglow effects at Chelsea, London, on 26 November 1883, at around: 4.40pm (top); 5pm (middle); and 6.15pm (bottom). These are among the thousands of sunset sketches made by the British artist William Ashcroft. Krakatoa's eruption prompted many reports and investigations. These artworks formed the frontispiece for The Report of the Krakatoa Committee of the Royal Society (1888)

© ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cygnus and Lyra constellations

Cygnus and Lyra constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Lacerta (the lizard), Cygnus (the swan), Lyra (the lyre, a musical instrument), Vulpecula (the little fox), and Anser (the goose; obsolete). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203

© ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Heart and lungs

Heart and lungs. Historical anatomical artwork of the human heart and lungs, seen from the front. Dissection hooks have been used to draw back the lungs (red, left and right) to reveal the heart (centre) with its pericardium partially opened to reveal the blood vessels on the surface of the heart. At upper centre the trachea (windpipe, white) supplies air to the lungs. Either side of the trachea are the major blood vessels (carotid arteries, red; jugular veins, blue) of the neck. The major shoulder blood vessels are also seen. Artwork from the 19th-century book Atlas of Anatomy, by Bourgery and Jacob. This book, which took over 20 years to complete, was published in France in 8 volumes from 1831 to 1854. It contained 726 colour plates covering both anatomy and surgical techniques

© MEHAU KULYK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY