In August 1835, an article appeared in the 'New York Sun', claiming that astronomer Sir John Herschel, using a powerful new telescope, had discovered life on the moon!

Sir John, the son of William Herschel, had been born in Slough in 1792. For an article about his life, and articles about other members of the Herschel family, see the theme 'Famous Slough'.

According to the article, among the forms of life on the moon were blue unicorns; beavers which walked on two legs, lived in huts and could make fire; and hairy winged humans which they called man-bats.

Although quickly denounced as a hoax, it does appear that at least some of the people of New York believed it to be true!

It has never been proved, but it is thought that the hoax was perpetrated by Richard Adams Locke, a Cambridge-educated reporter who was working for the paper at the time.

Herschel was certainly not involved in the hoax, and did not learn about it until some time later. By the time he was able to issue a denial the story had spread to Europe, and had even been published in a book!