The Great Moon Hoax of 1835

[Guttersnipe]

In 1835, the Sun newspaper published an article claiming that Herschel had discovered, via telescope, life on our moon. It was pretty imaginative, as the supposed Lunarians consisted of hairy bat-people (dubbed "Vespertilio homo"), bipedal beavers, telepathic unicorns, and other motley mammals. It was published only one month after Poe's tongue-in-cheek story, "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall."

Great Moon Hoax - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

"The Great Moon Hoax" is published in the "New York Sun" | August 25, 1835 | HISTORY

The first in a series of six articles announcing the supposed discovery of life on the moon appears in the New York Sun newspaper. The fictional stories became known as "The Great Moon Hoax."

www.history.com

You can read the full text here:

The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 (text)

On Tuesday, 25 August 1835, the <i>New York Sun</i> began publishing, in serial form, a long account of lunar discoveries supposedly made by Sir John Herschel. The narrative, which continued over five more days, is considered to be one of the most famous media hoaxes of all time. See <a...

hoaxes.org

I remember reading about it and seeing the sketches in a couple books I read as a kid. Years later, after I was convinced the hoax never existed, I rediscovered it. I've been in love with it ever since.

 

[BAYLOR]

I wonder if that is the source to term Moonbat.

 

[sknox]

Every one of those names are a candidate for my next band.

 

[Fiberglass Cyborg]

And to this day, people STILL believe that there is a moon.

....more seriously- I first came across this while reading about John and Caroline Herschel. J.H.'s reaction was to mildly comment that he wished his work was really that interesting. He did believe that there was probably life on other worlds, though.

 

[BAYLOR]

And to this day, people STILL believe that there is a moon.

....more seriously- I first came across this while reading about John and Caroline Herschel. J.H.'s reaction was to mildly comment that he wished his work was really that interesting. He did believe that there was probably life on other worlds, though.

This story would be a great basis for Comic Steam Punk Science fiction novel. In the story, it turns out the Lunarians Bats are quite real and bent on invading Earth . The only man who knows the truth about the Lunarian's plans and impending invasion , Dr Andrew Grant , the trouble is , nobody believes him.

 

[Guttersnipe]

@BAYLOR I always thought of the batlike Lunarians as peaceful creatures, and find it easier to imagine us invading the moon. I'd say it would make for a great scientific romance. If you go on Google Images and enter "vespertilio homo" there are some pictures of them helping a ship fly.

Entitled: "Diligenza di ritorno dalla luna" print shows a flying machine returning from the moon. The Great Moon Hoax refers to a series of six articles that were published in The Sun, a New York newspaper, beginning on August 25, 1835, about the sup

Download this stock image: Entitled: Diligenza di ritorno dalla luna print shows a flying machine returning from the moon. The Great Moon Hoax refers to a series of six articles that were published in The Sun, a New York newspaper, beginning on August 25, 1835, about the supposed discovery of...

www.alamy.com

 

[Guttersnipe]

https://recursive-occlusion.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F67912963509

 

[Pyan]

How could you tell, through a telescope, that the unicorns were telepathic? This alone would cast doubt on Herschel's observations...

 

[Fiberglass Cyborg]

How could you tell, through a telescope, that the unicorns were telepathic? This alone would cast doubt on Herschel's observations...

...by telepathy, presumably?

 

[Guttersnipe]

How could you tell, through a telescope, that the unicorns were telepathic? This alone would cast doubt on Herschel's observations...

It was written that the unicorns looked at, and seemed to be aware of, the person watching them.