Updated 06162025-131120
B776DBD4-A399-4F50-9E2A-2218880390ADA peculiar balloon, made of newspapers and shaped like an upside-down foolscap, descends upon Rotterdam, causing a stir among the citizens. The balloon’s occupant, a small, rotund man with a long nose and large hands, drops a letter addressed to the city’s astronomers before departing. The letter, opened by the astronomers, contains a mysterious and serious communication.
Hans Phaall, a former bellows mender from Rotterdam, recounts his financial struggles due to political unrest and his subsequent fascination with astronomy. Inspired by a treatise on speculative astronomy, he devises a plan to escape his creditors and embark on a journey of discovery. Phaall constructs a large balloon, equips it with scientific instruments, and prepares a unique gas for lift-off, intending to ascend into the heavens.
The narrator, after much preparation, successfully inflated a large balloon with gas and supplies for a journey. As the balloon ascended, a violent explosion occurred below, causing the balloon to collapse and the narrator to be thrown overboard. Despite the terrifying situation, the narrator, dangling from the balloon, remained calm and began devising a plan to regain control and ensure their safety.
Hans Phaall, driven to despair by his circumstances in Rotterdam, embarked on a perilous journey to the moon. He believed the moon’s distance from Earth was surmountable and that the atmosphere extended beyond Earth’s surface, possibly even to the moon. Phaall’s ascent in a balloon, which had initially left him hanging precariously, led him to observe a British ship and contemplate the possibility of a lunar voyage.
The narrator, Hans Phaall, details his audacious plan to travel to the moon using a balloon. He believes that with the right equipment and a steady ascent, he can overcome the challenges of decreasing atmospheric pressure and potential bodily discomfort. After reaching a significant altitude, he encounters a dense cloud that damages his equipment and puts him in danger, but he manages to escape by discarding ballast.
The narrator experiences severe altitude sickness, including difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, and eye pain, after rapidly ascending to 17 miles above the Earth. Despite the discomfort, the narrator observes the breathtaking view of the Earth and releases the pigeons, one of which dies while the other successfully flies away. The narrator’s cat, however, seems unaffected and gives birth to three kittens.
The narrator, experiencing severe respiratory distress, constructs an airtight enclosure around the balloon car using a gum-elastic bag. This enclosure, equipped with a condenser, allows for the introduction of breathable air. After completing the enclosure, the narrator finds relief from pain and observes the balloon’s rapid ascent, noting the decreasing density of the atmosphere.
The narrator, experiencing a smooth ascent in a balloon, observes the moon’s landscapes and contemplates the effects of the rarefied atmosphere on life. After losing a basket of cats due to an accident, the narrator devises a water clock to wake up every hour for air regeneration. This invention, using a keg and pitcher, proves effective, allowing the narrator to rest and continue the journey.
A balloon journey reaches immense heights, offering a panoramic view of the Earth and the Arctic ice cap. As the balloon ascends, the Earth’s diameter decreases, and the moon’s increases, indicating a course towards the moon. The journey is marked by a mysterious crackling noise and a sudden change in direction towards the lunar ellipse.
The narrator, traveling in a balloon, experiences a terrifying descent towards the moon, initially believing the balloon had burst. Upon regaining composure, the narrator observes the moon’s surface, noting its volcanic activity and lack of water bodies. As the descent accelerates, the narrator becomes increasingly alarmed about the moon’s atmosphere, relying on it for a safe landing.
Hans Phaall, a resident of the moon, recounts his extraordinary journey to Earth and requests a pardon for his creditors’ deaths. He offers to share valuable information about the moon’s climate, inhabitants, and mysteries in exchange for the pardon. Despite skepticism and rumors of a hoax, the College of Astronomers in Rotterdam is determined to obtain the pardon.