The Great Moon Hoax

Record summary

The Great Moon Hoax was a series of August 1835 articles in the New York Sun, falsely attributed to astronomer Sir John Herschel and describing alleged lunar discoveries, including inhabitants and animals. Although centered on a fictional lunar setting rather than a European sighting, it is useful for studying how authoritative scientific language, illustrations, and press circulation shaped extraordinary-belief narratives in the nineteenth century. It is generally treated as a newspaper hoax, but details of its authorship, editorial intent, and immediate public reception should be checked in media-history sources.