THE GREAT MOON HOAX

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4011, 4 August 1931, Page 2

THE GREAT MOON HOAX

! HOW LEADING SCIENTISTS WERE GULLED i Sir James Jeans referred recently to one of tlu greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated nuclei the cloak of science (writes J, S. Duke, in the Melbourne ‘Argus’)- it is known as the great lunar oi nun n hoax In 1830 the French astronomer Nicollet was dismissed, and the eminent astronomer and physicist Arago was appointed in his place as di lector of the Paris Observatory. Nicollet was poor, and he was obliged to leave France. Later he wrote the fabulous moon hoax, not only to raise funds, but also to indulge his spleen against Arago, who was a personal friend of, and was in constant communication with, the English astronomer John Her-chel concerning astronomy, physics, and the laws of optics. Nicollet had his treatise translated into Fnglish, and he sold it to the ’ Neu York Sun.’ Its publication in 18Jo occasioned a world-wide sensation. The article was republished in all parts oi the world, and it was read and accepted as being scientifically true by many thousands of people. The hoax was based upon discoveries alleged to have been made by John llerschel, who was created a baronet in 1838, on Januaiy li), 1830. Herschel had long contemplated a stay in southern latitudes so that he might survey southern heavens, lie first thought oi going to Parramatta (N.S.W.), but he believed that Dunlop, the astronomer there, had to a great extent anticipated him in charting the southern heavens Hi next thought of visiting the Himalayas, whence ho could view : the heavens' ol both hemispheres. Fin i ally he determined to visit the Cape ol Good Hope, which was “ within strikj ing distance ol India.” He left EngI land in Novemb. . 1833, and returned l in 1838. It was during his absence that | the hoax was published.

TENT OF THE HOAX. After introductory matter the article stated that it had occurred to the elder llerschel to construct an improved series of “ parabolic and spherical reflectors uniting all the meritorious points ol the Gregorian and Newtonian instruments with the highly interesting anchromatic discovery of Dollond.” This statement L a curious mixture ol science and fiction. Dollond’s discovery

did not relate to reflecting telescopes such as the Gregorian and Newtonian; it related to the refractor, or direelview telescope. Dollond discovered how to make an achromatic lens by the combination oi two lenses, one of crown glass, the other of flint glass, which neutralises the colour effects of a single lens. The article related that Sir 'William llerschel had been prevented by infirmities and eventual death from testing bt theory, which “ evinced, the most profound 1 research in optical science and the most dexterous ingenuitv in mechanical contrivance. Rut his son, John llerschel. a practical astronomei from his boyhood, determined to test it and, within two years of his father’s death, in 1824, he complet. d his new apparatus and adapted it to the new telescope with nearly complete success. Even with these improvements, involving a magnification G.Ot’O times, the image of the moon could <ot be brought nearer than an apparent distance of forty miles, at which distan. e no object less than 2()yds in diameter could be distinguished. Even then the objects appeared as onfv feeble, shapeless points. An account followed of aiii alleged conversation between Herschel and Sir David Rrewst r when Herschel “ diffidentlv iiujun ol whether it would not be possible to effect a transfusion of artificial light into the focal object of vis,on.” Bn David Rrewster referred to the “ icfraiigibility of rays and the angle of incidence.” Herschel then inquired : “Why annot the illuminating microscope, say the hydro-oxygon, he applied to render distinct, and, if nocessarv. even to magnify the local object? ” Further conversation which was recounted suggested that, where an enormous magnifying power was used there was not enough light for the image to be \ isiblb, and that the image might ho illuminated by aitificial light. Commenting upon the suggestion, Newcomb, in bis ‘ Astronomy

Tor Kvervbodv,’ tersely exposes the leiIncv. Ho states: “ The image oi an object formed by a telescope is such that in the very nature ol things extraneous light cannot aid in its torniatiou.” The narrative assorted that Herseliel laid his plans, based upon the views indicated, beloro the Royal Society; that they were immediately and enthusiastically approved by a committee appointed to investigate; and that the president (the Duke of Sussex) subscribed fIU.UOO in furtherance ol the project, and promised to submit it as a lit object for the Koval bounty; and. further, that the total estimated cost. C7O,UOU, was promised by Royalty on condition that the telescope and apparatus were constructed and the investigations conducted by Herschel in absolute secrecy until after he had communicated the results ot the great experiment. It was stated that the object glass of the telescope was to he 241t or 288 in in diameter. The lamest object glass that has yet been made is that of the reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson, California (U.S.A.), which is lOOin in diameter.

the surface of the moon. The journey of Herschcl to the Cape and the setting up of bis observatory wore described. It was stated that it was not until the night of January IU, 18J5, that the mighty telescope was directed at the moon. Marvellous discoveries were recorded. Basaltic rocks were observed. “ similar to those of Staa,” which were covered with bright red (lowers; lunar forests were seen with “ trees unlike any on earth except (he largest kind of yews in English churchyards”; a lunar ocean was described, “ the water nearly as blue as that of the deep sea, and breaking in large white billows upon the strand, while the action of very high tides was quite manifest upon the face of the cliffs for more than 100 miles.” in an oval valley “ small collections ol trees of every imaginable kind were scattered, and hero our magnifiers blessed our panting hopes with specimens of conscious existence —brown quadrupeds, having all the externa! characteristics of the bison, but more diminutive than any species of the bos genus in natural history.” Herds of creatures like antelopes, small quadrupeds like the reindeer, elk, moose, and bear abounded; the beaver was seen walking like a biped; so were “ good, large sheep, which would not

have disgraced the farms ol Lincolnshire or the shambles of Leadcnhall Market.” _ . Then came the climax. Several flocks, of large-winged creatures were described, wholly unlike any kinds of birds, descending near the “ lake Langrenus with a slow, even motion from the cliffs, and alighting on the plain. These were lirst noticed by Heischel, who exclaimed: ‘“Now, gentlemen, we have here something wortli looking at. 1 was confident that i ever we found beings in human shape it would be in this longitude, and that thev would be provided by the Creator with some extraordinary powers or locomotion.” Three parties were 0 ’ served, each of 12, 19, and viduals. walking erect towards a small wood Thev were like human beings, for their wings had now disappeared, and the attitude in walking was hotn erect and dignified. They were on an average -Jit in height, and they «ut covered, except their faces with slimt and glossy copper-coloured hau vhi<h lav snugly upon their backs and the calves of'their lens. The faces were of a yellowish flesh colour. As'a work- ol fiction the narrative is ‘hHdv skilful, and the pseudo-scien-tific references, coupled as they are with the names of well-known scientists lend an air of verisimilitude to the tale. Tt is not surprising, therefore that manv thousands of readers were led to 'believe that the article was a statement of scientific fact and not a huge hoax.