The first Great Moon Hoax article is published in The New York Sun, announcing the discovery of life and civilization on the Moon.

The Great Moon Hoax was a series of six articles published in The New York Sun newspaper in August 1835. These articles falsely claimed that the famous astronomer Sir John Herschel had made incredible discoveries on the Moon, including the existence of animals, plants, and even humanoid beings.

The articles were published between August 25 and August 31, 1835. The hoax captured the public’s imagination and led to a significant increase in the newspaper’s circulation. It wasn’t until later that the articles were revealed to be entirely fabricated, though by then, they had already left a lasting impact on the public and the media.

The hoax is often cited as one of the earliest examples of “fake news” and remains a fascinating piece of media history.