The Great Moon Hoax of 1835

In August 1835, the New York Sun published a series of articles claiming that astronomer Sir John Herschel had discovered life on the Moon, including bat-winged humanoids, unicorns, and elaborate civilizations. The hoax captured public imagination and became history’s first major media sensation about extraterrestrial life.

The Articles

Beginning August 25, 1835, six articles were published attributed to Dr. Andrew Grant that claimed to report Herschel’s findings, described lunar inhabitants, and generated enormous excitement.

The Claims

The articles described bat-winged humanoids (“Vespertilio-homo”), blue unicorns, biped beavers without tails, temples made of polished sapphire, and vast lunar oceans and forests.

The “Telescope”

Supposedly, Herschel built a super-powerful telescope that could see the Moon in detail, observed from Cape of Good Hope, and made revolutionary discoveries, though none of it was real.

Public Reaction

The hoax became a worldwide sensation as circulation of the Sun soared, people believed the stories, scientists were fooled initially, and it sparked widespread debate.

The Truth

The hoax was written by Richard Adams Locke, intended as satire to mock scientific speculation, never officially admitted by the Sun, and eventually exposed.

Sir John Herschel

The real astronomer was unaware initially, found it amusing at first, later grew annoyed that his name was used without permission while he was doing legitimate research in South Africa.

Why It Worked

The hoax succeeded because scientific authority was invoked, details were elaborate, the public was hungry for discovery, communication was slow, and verification was difficult.

Legacy Impact

The hoax demonstrated media power over public belief, human desire to believe in aliens, the need for scientific skepticism, and became an early “fake news” phenomenon.

Significance

The Great Moon Hoax is significant for being the first major extraterrestrial life hoax, demonstrating media influence, highlighting human credulity, representing an early science communication failure, and serving as a precursor to later hoaxes.

Legacy

The 1835 Moon Hoax established a pattern that would repeat throughout history: sensational claims about extraterrestrial life, public excitement, and eventual debunking. It remains a cautionary tale about the power of media and human desire to believe.