The Moon 1857 - 1860

"The Moon" is a striking daguerreotype by American photographer John Adams Whipple, created between 1857 and 1860. Whipple, a pioneer in astronomical photography, captured a detailed image of the moon's surface with remarkable clarity for its time. The photograph, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases Whipple's technical mastery and the emerging capabilities of early photographic processes in scientific exploration. This photograph is a testament to the advancements in astronomical photography in the 19th century and serves as a historical record of our early attempts to visualize celestial bodies.