I can still remember the time when each sharp black and white picture of an astronomical phenomenon signified the culmination of a huge amount of effort, from getting under control the dead run of a telescope assembly and the whims of the clockwork through incompatible flanges of camera adaptors to the permanent struggling with not particularly sensitive but very grainy photographic emulsions.

This obscure prehistory of astronomical imaging seems to be buried somewhere in the dim and distant past but we should remember that, just fifteen years ago, it was the norm for publishing astronomers/lecturers who illustrated their books or lectures with photographic images.

Then came the wonderful time when the quality, sensitivity and graininess of color emulsions were improved to an astonishing extent. Astronomy was invaded by CCD matrices and desktop computer software allowing you to work wonders with the images in terms of improving their sharpness, color rendering or contrast.

I am aware of no other person in our country who could use the developments in astronomical phenomena imaging to his advantage better than the author of this CD which is quietly purring in the drive of your computer. A couple of years back, when Zden∞k Pokorn² (who, like the author of this CD, resides in Brno) and I needed to enhance, for our own CD-ROM, images released by NASA for public use, the choice was unanimously Miloslav Druckmⁿller. The pictures of the Solar system bodies which he returned were of excellent quality. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that his CD-ROM dedicated to the total solar eclipse in August 1999 is a true masterpiece and I should know because I also made the trip to Hungary to view the eclipse and was a forlorn bundle of nerves under a gaunt sky until the weather turned around exactly over the Balaton lake. What followed were the shortest two minutes in my life and the magnificent experience will remain burnt into my memory. One is sure that given such a short scope of time in which each mistake frustrates all hopes, nobody can encompass all the aspects of that unique natural phenomenon, a phenomenon which I had been looking forward to for an unbelievable 51 years, from the moment when I read, in a book by Hubert Slouka, that the zone of totality will also extend over Central Europe. Nevertheless, after viewing Druckmⁿller's CD I could not help but have the impression that he, along with his daughters, had managed to achieve the impossible: to present a comprehensive view of the whole short-lasting natural phenomenon and offer you a chance to enjoy it repeatedly via static images and ingenious animations; and what is more, in unbelievably clear, professional and, at the same time, stunning pictures. The CD-ROM's primary goal is, undoubtedly, to pass on the astronomical event of the end of the 20th century to those who were unable to see it but I am convinced that both the photographs and the accompanying text will be a delight for those who were lucky enough to be eyewitnesses to the natural spectacle as well.

The CD is of a highly professional standard including the user-friendly and intuitive interface; there can be no doubt that, as with precious old wine, the value of this unique work will grow with time.