Henry Draper
Encyclopedia
Henry Draper was an American doctor
and amateur astronomer. He is best known today as a pioneer of astrophotography.
, was an accomplished doctor, chemist, botanist, and professor at New York University
; he was also the first to photograph the moon through a telescope in the winter of 1839–1840. Draper's mother was Antonia Coetana de Paiva Pereira Gardner, daughter of the personal physician to the Emperor of Brazil
.
He graduated from New York University School of Medicine
, at the age of 20, in 1857. He worked first as a physician at Bellevue Hospital, and later as both a professor and dean of medicine at New York University
(NYU). In 1867 he married Anna Mary Palmer, a wealthy socialite.
Draper was one of the pioneers of the use of astrophotography
. In 1872, he took a stellar spectrum that showed absorption lines, others, such as Joseph Fraunhofer, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
and Angelo Secchi
, preceded him in that ambition.
He resigned his chair in the medical department in 1873, to allow for more time for original research.
He directed an expedition to photograph the 1874 transit of Venus
, and was the first to photograph the Orion Nebula
, on September 30, 1880. Using his 11 inch Clark Brothers photographic refractor he took a 50 minute exposure. He photographed the spectrum of Jupiter in 1880.
Draper's observatory, where he took his much-admired photographs of the moon, was located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
, and today the building functions as the Hastings-on-Hudson Historical Society.
Draper received numerous awards, including honorary LL.D.
law degrees from NYU and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1882, a Congressional medal for directing the U.S. expedition to photograph the 1874 transit of Venus, and election to both the National Academy of Sciences
and the Astronomische Gesellschaft
. In addition, he held memberships in the American Photographic Society, the American Philosophical Society
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
After his untimely early death from double pleurisy
, his widow funded the Henry Draper Medal
for outstanding contributions to astrophysics
and a telescope, which was used to prepare the Henry Draper Catalog of stellar spectra. This historical Henry Draper's telescope is now in at the Toruń Centre for Astronomy
(Nicolaus Copernicus University) at Piwnice
in Poland
. The small crater Draper
on the Moon
is named in his honor.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and amateur astronomer. He is best known today as a pioneer of astrophotography.
Life and work
Henry Draper's father, John William DraperJohn William Draper
John William Draper was an American scientist, philosopher, physician, chemist, historian, and photographer. He is credited with producing the first clear photograph of a female face and the first detailed photograph of the Moon...
, was an accomplished doctor, chemist, botanist, and professor at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
; he was also the first to photograph the moon through a telescope in the winter of 1839–1840. Draper's mother was Antonia Coetana de Paiva Pereira Gardner, daughter of the personal physician to the Emperor of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
He graduated from New York University School of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine
The New York University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of New York University. Founded in 1841 as the University Medical College, the NYU School of Medicine is one of the foremost medical schools in the United States....
, at the age of 20, in 1857. He worked first as a physician at Bellevue Hospital, and later as both a professor and dean of medicine at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU). In 1867 he married Anna Mary Palmer, a wealthy socialite.
Astrophotography
Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky. The first photographs of an astronomical object were taken in the 1840s, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for...
. In 1872, he took a stellar spectrum that showed absorption lines, others, such as Joseph Fraunhofer, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
Lewis Morris Rutherfurd was an American lawyer and astronomer, and a pioneering astrophotographer.- Life and work :...
and Angelo Secchi
Angelo Secchi
-External links:...
, preceded him in that ambition.
He resigned his chair in the medical department in 1873, to allow for more time for original research.
He directed an expedition to photograph the 1874 transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
, and was the first to photograph the Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula is a diffuse nebula situated south of Orion's Belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light...
, on September 30, 1880. Using his 11 inch Clark Brothers photographic refractor he took a 50 minute exposure. He photographed the spectrum of Jupiter in 1880.
Draper's observatory, where he took his much-admired photographs of the moon, was located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and today the building functions as the Hastings-on-Hudson Historical Society.
Draper received numerous awards, including honorary LL.D.
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
law degrees from NYU and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1882, a Congressional medal for directing the U.S. expedition to photograph the 1874 transit of Venus, and election to both the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
and the Astronomische Gesellschaft
Astronomische Gesellschaft
The Astronomische Gesellschaft is an astronomical society established in 1863 in Heidelberg, the second oldest astronomical society after the Royal Astronomical Society....
. In addition, he held memberships in the American Photographic Society, the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
After his untimely early death from double pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
, his widow funded the Henry Draper Medal
Henry Draper Medal
The Henry Draper Medal is awarded by the United States National Academy of Sciences "for investigations in astronomical physics". Named after Henry Draper, the medal is awarded with a gift of USD $15,000...
for outstanding contributions to astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
and a telescope, which was used to prepare the Henry Draper Catalog of stellar spectra. This historical Henry Draper's telescope is now in at the Toruń Centre for Astronomy
Torun Centre for Astronomy
The Toruń Centre for Astronomy is an optical and radio observatory located at near about 15 km north of Toruń, Poland. It houses two single-dish antenna telescopes, 32 metres and 15 metres in diameter, as well as the largest Polish optical telescope - 90-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain camera. The facility...
(Nicolaus Copernicus University) at Piwnice
Piwnice
Piwnice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Łysomice, within Toruń County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately west of Łysomice and north-west of Toruń....
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The small crater Draper
Draper (crater)
Draper is a small lunar impact crater in the southern part of the Mare Imbrium. It is a circular, cup-shaped formation, with a tiny craterlet intruding into the northeastern rim. To the north-northeast is the crater Pytheas, and to the south lies the Montes Carpatus range. Just to the southeast is...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named in his honor.
Selected works
- The Changes of Blood-Cells in the Spleen, thesis, 1858.
- A Text-Book on Chemistry, 1866 revision of his father's 1846 text.
- Are there other inhabited worlds?, 1866.
- Delusions of Medicine, Charms, talismans, amulets, astrology, and mesmerism, 1873.
- The Discovery of Oxygen in the Sun by Photography, 1877.