Insects on the Moon? What Did Astronomer William Henry Pickering See?

As many of you know, I am fascinated with lunar mysteries. There are so many interesting stories to tell. One that fascinated me the most and would have seemed farfetched if it were not for the source, is that of insects on the Moon. Yes, you read it right. Lunar insects (or perhaps some form of animal). This information came from a very well-known and highly respected American astronomer by the name of William Henry Pickering (1858–1938). Pickering is known for creating several observatories including the prominent Flagstaff Observatory, in Flagstaff Arizona. It was Pickering that discovered Saturn’s ninth moon “Phoebe” on March 18, 1899. An avid Moon observer, Pickering investigated lunar craters and carefully watched the changes that were happening in the Eratosthenes crater. Pickering reported seeing “traveling dark objects” that were traversing the lunar surface. He wrote of this odd occurrence stating, “In trying to find conclusive arguments for or against the existence of animal life upon the Moon, I have necessarily studied not only the routes along which it [they] appears to travel, but also the reasons for which it might be expected to travel.” Interestingly, Pickering concluded that what he had witnessed was a form of “lunar insect.” He reported that they traveled 20 miles in 12 days. Pickering believed that these lunar insects were the cause of the changes he had found in the Eratosthenes crater. In his book, Our Mysterious Spaceship Moon, ufologist Don Wilson writes, “no one questions Pickering’s integrity and competence. He did see something. What it was remains a mystery.” So, what was it exactly that Pickering witnessed moving across the Moon? Perhaps there will come a day when we will find the answer to this baffling sighting.