Richard Adams Locke

The moon hoax : $b or, A discovery that the moon has a vast population of human beings

"The Moon Hoax: Or, A Discovery that the Moon has a Vast Population of Human…" is a series of newspaper articles published in 1835. Beginning on August 25, The Sun newspaper reported astonishing discoveries of life on the Moon—including winged humanoids, unicorns, and temples—falsely attributed to astronomer Sir John Herschel. The elaborate hoax described observations through a massive telescope and captivated readers for weeks. Written by reporter Richard Adams Locke, the articles were intended as satire of extravagant astronomical theories, yet fooled the public and established the paper's fame.