In today’s world, disinformation and “alternative facts” are prevalent. However, about two centuries ago, a science hoax unintentionally created by a reporter captured the attention of the world.
In August 1835, the New York newspaper solar published a series of six articles revealing surprising discoveries supposedly made by the renowned British astronomer Sir John Herschel. These pieces were written by Dr. Andrew Grant, Herschel’s fictional travel companion.
The series began with the description of a massive telescope, 7 meters in diameter and weighing over 7 tons, enabling Herschel to observe the moon in unprecedented detail.
During the progression of the series, Herschel’s remarkable findings were elaborated. The articles depicted lush forests, vast oceans, and whimsical creatures like unicorns, bipedal beavers, and winged humans known as “manbats,” with accompanying lithographs.
The final piece described the destruction of the telescope and an ensuing fire at the observatory where it was housed.
The actual author of the series was reporter Richard Adams Locke, who admitted to the hoax years later. Locke intended the satire to critique the influence of religion on scientific theories and mock Reverend Thomas Dick’s astronomical predictions.
By underestimating the public’s readiness to believe his fiction and blending truth with the narrative, Locke’s hoax garnered widespread belief before the paper eventually acknowledged it as a fabrication.
This piece answers the question “What was the Great Moon Hoax of 1835?” posed by Julie King of Southampton.
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