When did the first photograph of the Moon appear?

In 1840 the scientist John William Draper produced a daguerreotype image of the Moon, widely regarded as the first successful astronomical photograph of it. The daguerreotype process required long exposures, and photographing a moving, faint object like the Moon was a real challenge. His early image was small and blurry by modern standards but proved that celestial objects could be captured on a photographic plate. As camera technology improved, astronomers began photographing the Moon, stars, and planets in ever greater detail. Astrophotography became a vital tool for mapping and studying the night sky.