The Great Moon Hoax was a series of articles published in August 1835 in The New York Sun, detailing the supposed discovery of life and civilization on the Moon. Authored by Richard Adams Locke, the articles described fantastical creatures and alien landscapes, claimed to have been observed with a powerful telescope. Widely believed at the time, the story was a fabrication intended to boost newspaper sales. The hoax became a significant example of media sensationalism in the 19th century.