1/2 26 Oct. 1868: at the session of the Académie des Sciences in Paris, two independent reports are read — one from Pierre J. C. Janssen and one from J. N. Lockyer. Both describe a spectroscopic method for observing solar prominences in broad daylight, without waiting for an eclipse. The actual observations had taken place earlier. On 18 August 1868, during the total eclipse in India, Janssen examined the spectrum of the prominences and saw a bright yellow line that did not match sodium. On 20 October Lockyer, in England, independently observed the same prominences in daylight and found the identical line. In the reports read on 26 October the main result that stood out was the new method itself. The yellow line was noted, but neither report yet presented it as clear evidence of a new element. The Academy later awarded a medal to both for the method of observing solar prominences. In the following weeks, Lockyer (working with Edward Frankland) became convinced the yellow line (later called D₃) belonged to an element unknown on Earth. He named it helium (from the Greek helios = Sun). The element was isolated on Earth only in 1895 by William Ramsay. In short: - observations of the yellow line → 18 Aug (Janssen) and 20 Oct (Lockyer) 1868 - official reading of the method → 26 Oct 1868 - recognition as a new element → later A clear case of independent discovery of the same method, and the start of the helium story.