Where Was Helium First Discovered. It was first detected as an unknown yellow line in the sun’s spectrum, during a total solar eclipse in 1868 by french astronomer pierre janssen. The process was eventually hastened by the outbreak of the first world war.

Helium, the second most abundant element in the universe, was discovered on the sun before it was found on the earth. A noble gas, helium was first discovered 150 years ago, on august 18, 1868, by the french astronomer, jules janssen, during a total solar eclipse. First found only on the sun, scientists doubted the mysterious element even existed for more than a decade