The truth behind Frankenstein's moon

The author of the book Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, has previously been questioned by his own statement that she one night saw "a bright and shiny moon" through her ​​window, which was the inspiration for the book. She subsequently wrote Frankenstein's Monster in a "waking dream". Many critics have argued that this was only a lie to sell the book itself, but now researchers have concluded that the moon may well have been inspired that night.

Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Shelley lived with Lord Byron and John Polidori in the house Villa Dionati in Switzerland in June 1816th It was these four individuals who together conceived the idea of ​​writing a skräckbok. The result is the famous "Frankenstein's Monster."

Shelley wrote a very detailed and thorough explanation about the moon's light and form in an early edition of Frankenstein's Monster

A group of astronomers at Texas State University in San Marco have now shown how the moon was in the night sky at the night in June 1816 at her house, Villa Dionati in Switzerland. The team, with Professor Donald Olson at the head has made typographical surveys of the terrain around Villa Dionati and analyzed weather data from the period around juni 1816th These studies show that the moon may well have been able to shine just as described in the book, June 16, 1816 between the hours of 02:00 and 03:00. The team will publish their findings in the November edition of Sky and Telescope Magazine.

Article by Fredrik Varg