On this day in 1835, The New York Sun published the first of six articles, later known as “The Moon Hoax.” The articles alleged that a prominent astronomer, Sir John Herschel, had discovered a civilization on the moon. Among the Lunarians was said to be a race of winged bat people called Vespertilions. Edgar Allan Poe had authored his moon hoax two months prior. However, as Poe’s was satirical, it did not garner the fascination of the Sun’s reports.
