Arago was one of the very first to be interested in the newly born photographic technique, and publicized it. Together with Louis-Mandé Daguerre (1787-1851), who had just invented the first practical photographic technique, the daguerreotype, he successfully photographed a partial eclipse of the Sun. This photograph was for many years archived at the Observatory, but it gradually faded, unlike an engraving.

caption : First daguerreotype of the Sun in 1839 - credits : CNAM