Henry Draper

Henry Draper (March 7, 1837 – November 20, 1882) was an American medical doctor, professor of natural science, professor of physiology, and amateur astronomer, known as a pioneer of astrophotography. He was elected in 1877 to membership in both the American Philosophical Society, in 1879 a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and in 1881 a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Quotes

Within the last few years a new form of chemical analysis has arisen, which ascertains substances by observation upon the color and properties which they impart to flames during combustion. It has been long known that the combustion of certain bodies gave certain colors to flames; strontia, for example, affording the beautiful crimson so well known in pyrotechny. But no sure method existed of using the facts of combustion for chemical investigations, until the invention of the spectroscope. Spectrum analysis enables us to detect the minutest trace of the constituents of substances burnt. It has already discovered several unsuspected new metals; has given us the power of analyzing bodies whose composition we had not the means of ascertaining, and has proved to us that many of the elements of the earth are present in the inaccessible sun, and even in those more remote stars whose distance the most refined researches of astronomy cannot determine.
- (1866) . "The Spectroscope and Its Revelations". Scientific American 15 (2): 17–18.

I propose in this preliminary paper to indicate the means by which I have discovered oxygen and probably nitrogen in the sun, and also to present a new view of the consitutiion of the solar spectrum.
Oxygen discloses itself itself by bright lines or bands in the solar spectrum, and does not give dark absorption ines like the metals.
- (August 1877) "ARTICLE XIV.--Discovery of Oxygen in the Sun by Photography, and a new Theory of the Solar Spectrum". American Journal of Science and Arts (1820-1879) 4 (80).

As the eclipse of July 29th occurred at a time when there were no sun spots and the chromosphere was in a condition of minimum activity, it seemed probable that new facts concerning the corona might be ascertained. For this reason I organized an expedition, consisting of my wife and myself, my friends, Profs. Morton and Barker, and Mr. Edison. Rawlins, Wyoming Territory, was selected as the station for a temporary observatory, because~ while it was near the central line of totality, it was supplied with water from the granite of Cherokee Mountain, which facilitated photographic operations, and was in a region that was dry and apt to be cloudless. Being on the line of the Union Pacific R. R., apparatus could be easily transported.
- (1878) . "The total solar eclipse of July 29th, 1878". Journal of the Franklin Institute 106 (4): 217–220. (quote from p. 217)

Toward the close of 1868 Professor Draper became greatly interested in a project to establish an observatory in Central Park, and had numerous consultations upon the subject with Mr. Andrew Green, at that time the controller, and Mr. Vaux, the architect of the park. In Decembert the park was visited and the site of the observatory selected. It was a knoll at about 105th street, 130 feet above the water, and commanding an unobstructed view. Dr. Draper was appointed the director of this new observatory, and plans were arranged for securing the $250,000 which was estimated would be required for carrying the project into operation.
- George Frederick Barker, "Henry Draper, 1837–1882". Biographical Memoirs. National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). 1895. pp. 80–139. (quote from p. 133 — See also Henry Draper Observatory.)