Henry Draper was an American physician and astronomer, born on March 7, 1837, in New York City. He is best known for his pioneering work in astrophotography, which involves capturing images of celestial objects. Draper was the first to photograph a nebula, specifically the Orion Nebula, in 1880, significantly advancing the field of astronomy. In addition to his contributions to astrophotography, Draper was also involved in the study of stellar spectra. He developed techniques to analyze the light from stars, which helped in understanding their composition and temperature. His work laid the groundwork for future astronomers and earned him recognition in the scientific community.