https://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/08/19/1800s-astronomical-drawings * Skip to main content * Click to learn about accessibility at the Library The New York Public Library * Log In * NYPL Locations Near Me * Open Search * Open Navigation The New York Public Library * Log In * Locations * Get a Library Card * Get Email Updates * Donate * Shop * Books/Music/Movies * Research * Education * Events * Connect * Give * Get Help Search Get a Library Card Get Email Updates Shop NYPLDonate * Blogs + Blog Channels + Posts by Subject + About NYPL Blogs + Blogger Profiles * Audio & Video * Digital Projects * Print Publications * Connect with NYPL 1800s Astronomical Drawings vs. NASA Images by Lauren WeissAugust 19, 2016 Trouvelot It's no secret that the New York Public Library's Digital Collections hold many, many treasures--over 690,000, to be more specific. Of all the gorgeous, funny, odd, and impressive items I've stumbled upon, the E. L. Trouvelot astronomical pastel drawings sit in my top ten. Trouvelot was a French immigrant to the US in the 1800s, and his job was to create sketches of astronomical observations at Harvard College's observatory. Building off of this sketch work, Trouvelot decided to do large pastel drawings of "the celestial phenomena as they appear...through the great modern telescopes." What amazes me about these drawings is how detailed they seem to be--but I am no astronomer. I decided to investigate a bit further and pair them with NASA's photographs, which were taken about 150 years after Trouvelot's work to see just how precise his art really was. For all images, click the image title to see a larger version! Mars With NASA's Mars Expedition Rovers, we have more detailed images of Mars than ever before. Still, you can see how Trouvelot included similar shading, and the spots in his drawing resemble those around the left edge of NASA's photo. Mars Mars The planet Mars. Observed September Valles Marineris: The Grand 3, 1877, at 11h. 55m. P.M. Canyon of Mars; Image via NASA Jupiter Check out that Great Red Spot and the bands on Jupiter's surface! NASA's Juno recently reached Jupiter and sent back a less clear image, as well, but we can look forward to much more detail soon as Juno circles Jupiter 37 times at varying altitudes to photograph its surface. Jupiter Jupiter The planet Jupiter. Observed November 1, Jupiter From the Ground; 1880, at 9h. 30m. P.M. Image via NASA First in-orbit view from Juno: Jupiter Partial Eclipse of the Moon No telescope required for this one. Anyone who has stepped outside to check out a Lunar Eclipse can verify the accuracy--it even shows the very slight illumination of the moon's eclipsed surface. Moon Moon Partial eclipse of the moon. Observed Supermoon Eclipse in Washington October 24, 1874. ; Image via NASA Nebula in Orion The enhanced spectrum of NASA's photo wasn't available in Trouvelot's time, but you can spot the same curvature of the nebula (though it's the reverse of the NASA image) and the denser center. Nebula Nebula The great nebula in Orion. From a study Chaos at the Heart of made in the years 1875-76. Orion; Image via NASA Hercules Star Cluster One of the brightest star clusters in the northern sky, this one is visible with the naked eye on a clear night in the countryside. Hercules Hercules M13: The Great Globular Star clusters in Hurcules. From a study Cluster in Hercules made in June, 1877. Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh Milky Way There's nothing quite like looking up at the Milky Way on a clear night to make you feel incredibly small. In Trouvelot's drawing you can spot a bit of sea and a ship at the bottom--perhaps he was contemplating his own insignificance by the sea when he did this study. I'd like to think the astronaut who took the photo from the International Space Station had a similar feeling. Milky Way Milky Way Part of the Milky Way. From a study Milky Way Viewed From the made during the years 1874, 1875 and International Space Station; 1876. Image via NASA Saturn Different angles, but the NASA photo from the Cassini mission almost feels like a drawing and vice versa. Saturn Saturn The planet Saturn. Observed on November 30, Up and Over; Image 1874, at 5h. 30m. P.M. via NASA Total Eclipse of the Sun Try not to sing "Total Eclipse of the Heart". I personally enjoy Trouvelot's added artistic flair (or flare, if you want to be punny) on this one. Total Eclipse Total Eclipse Total eclipse of the sun. Observed July Image of Solar Eclipse as 29, 1878, at Creston, Wyoming Territory seen by Hinode Satellite via NASA Aurora Borealis The shot from the International Space Station has slightly less curvature than Trouvelot's drawing, but it's a similarly spectacular view of this phenomenon. Aurora Borealis Aurora Borealis Aurora Borealis. As observed March 1, Aurora Borealis Over the 1872, at 9h. 25m. P.M. Midwest; Image via NASA Sun Spots Our ability to get detailed imagery of the Sun has dramatically improved, but zoom in on NASA's image and you'll see Trouvelot actually created a spectacular representation of sun spots. Sun Spots Sun Spots Group of sun spots and veiled spots. Two Coronal Holes on the Observed on June 17th 1875 at 7 h. 30 m. Sun; Image via NASA A.M. Learn more about E. L. Trouvelot, his silkworm error, and the drawings. See all of his drawings possessed by NYPL. 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