Moon hoax: you've heard the claims. You know they're wrong. But can you explain why?

Now you can.

This is the cover of my forthcoming book Moon Hoax: Debunked! (formerly known by the working title Yes, We Did Go to the Moon). As the blurb says, finally there will be a no-nonsense, fact-filled book that debunks ”moon hoax” claims. It will be suitable for doubters, to dispel their doubts, as well as for space enthusiasts, who will find all the technically accurate answers to the questions of their doubtful friends.

Moon Hoax: Debunked! is based on my Italian-language book on the subject, which is already available as a free download or in hardcopy. As soon as MHD is ready, it will be likewise available as a free digital download and on sale in hardcopy via Lulu.com and Amazon.com.

You can already download the first draft of the initial chapters (90 pages) and of the table of contents of Moon Hoax: Debunked! as a low-resolution free PDF file. A less complete HTML version is available by clicking on the sidebar on this blog. Comments and corrections, as well as donations to encourage me to finish writing this book, are of course most welcome.

What's in the book

Moon Hoax: Debunked! begins with Race for the Moon, a quick primer on the historical background of the Moon race, followed by How We Went to the Moon, a description of the hardware and the events of a typical Moon mission. Then there's a detailed explanation of the best evidence of the Moon landings. The origins and popularity of the various hoax theories is explored. The rest of the book is dedicated to a point-by-point debunking of the main "moon hoax" claims and common misconceptions regarding the Moon landings, divided by category: alleged anomalies in photographs and in video and film footage, technological and physical anomalies, and other miscellaneous claims.

The book is also an opportunity to explore the technology of the space race: not only the rocketry but also the analog photography, film and television technology used to provide the visual record of the Moon missions.

There's a chapter on how to argue with a Moon hoax believer, one covering the various UFO claims and one with a list of questions that will befuddle any hoax believer by pointing out the contradictions of his or her claims.

You will also find a chapter that shows how the Apollo missions don't need conspiracy theories to be a fascinating story. For example, did you know that pictures of Playmates were smuggled to the Moon to prank the astronauts? Or that there was a secret Soviet plan to land a Russian on the Moon before the US?

Who I am

I'm Paolo Attivissimo, a British-Italian science journalist specialized in research into conspiracy theories, hoaxes and urban legends. I've written or coauthored over a dozen books on computers, the Internet and other subjects such as 9/11 conspiracy theories, UFOs and scientific mysteries in Italian. I live near Lugano, Switzerland, where I work for Swiss National Radio (RSI) and as a consultant for RAI, Mediaset and other Italian-language radio and TV networks. My CV (in Italian) is here.

I'm also a lifelong space enthusiast and a part-time collaborator of NASA's Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, so Moon Hoax: Debunked! is a labor of love as well as a good excuse to delve into the fascinating human and technical details of mankind's greatest journeys of exploration. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I am enjoying writing it.