1845 Louis Fizeau – First Sun Photo

Louis Fizeau’s adaptation of daguerreotype technology in 1845 captured the sun, merging scientific insight with photographic artistry.

In 1845, Louis Fizeau captured the first detailed photograph of the sun, a critical advancement in the history of photography that demonstrated its potential as a powerful scientific tool. This landmark daguerreotype not only safely depicted the sun’s transient phenomena like sunspots, but also showcased photography's capacity to endure intense scrutiny, enabling prolonged scientific study.

Fizeau adapted the existing daguerreotype process by integrating telescopic lenses to handle the sun's overwhelming brightness, marked a significant advancement in photographic techniques. His work laid foundational principles for the use of photography in natural sciences and astronomy, influencing future technological developments in image capture. More than a scientific achievement, Fizeau's pioneering photograph blended art with empirical study, inspiring aesthetic appreciation for scientific imagery.

Credit: Hippolyte Fizeau, Léon Foucault, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Author: Hippolyte Fizeau, Léon Foucault
Title: Unknown
Date: 2 April 1845
Archive: Science & Society Picture Library
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Original file: 600 x 450 pixels, file size: 27 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg
Available information: The first photograph of the Sun was made by Léon Foucault and Hippolyte Fizeau on 2 April 1845 in Paris, France.