The great Moon hoax of 1835

Lithograph published in the New York Sun newspaper in 1835 result life on the moon. Credit: Wikipedia

Say the words "Moon Hoax" Nowadays, and everyone thinks you are talking about the people who do not believe, always was the Apollo astronauts on the moon. But already in 1835 was the original Moon hoax, the thousands of people, despite the high tale is complete fiction fell. A series of articles published in the New York Sun newspaper reporting incredible new astronomical observations of the Moon supposedly from the astronomer Sir John Herschel observing run at the Cape of good hope his powerful new telescope. Detailed descriptions of winged beings, plants, animals and a Sapphire Temple increases sales and subscriptions for the young newspaper.

Here is a selection of one of the articles:

"We three parties of these creatures, the twelve, has certainly counted nine and fifteen in each walk upright to a small they were as people, now disappeared for their wings and both upright was their setting on foot and Dignified…" About half of the first party had passed through our canvas; but we had everyone else completely different and deliberate view. On average four meters in height, were you, except on the face, with short and shiny coppery hair, and wing had a thin membrane, without hair, the calves are comfortable on the back from the top of the shoulders, her legs. "

The descriptions were supposedly reprinted from the non-existent Edinburgh Journal of science, and only a few weeks after the published articles have questions arise about the truth of these stories. The newspaper at that time not to issue a retraction, and now, even more than 175 years later has not issued a full drive, either.

It is said that Herschel was initially amused by the hoax, noting that his own real observations could be never so exciting. But later, he was upset to questions from people who believed that the hoax Ernst was.

To be honest, I had heard of this hoax, until it was discussed in the today's 365 days of astronomy podcast by Professor Rob Knop. He has a big job tells the story, so hear it most definitely is worth.

Sources: 365 days of astronomy, HistoryBuff, Wikipedia

Tagged as: April Fools, Moon

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