Nothing can survive the brutal conditions on the surface of the Moon. But a story that debuted 125 years ago depicted a vast civilization below the surface – a society of insects.

First Men in the Moon was written by H.G. Wells. It was published over several months in two magazines – “The Cosmopolitan” in the United States, and “The Strand” in Britain. The first installment appeared in November of 1900.

In the story, a man named Bedford befriends a scientist named Cavor who’s invented “cavorite” – a substance that nullifies gravity. He builds a ship and covers it with shutters that are coated in the stuff. Opening and closing the shutters allows the ship to move through space.

The two men travel to the Moon, where they’re taken underground by the Selenites. Bedford escapes. Thinking Cavor is dead, he returns to Earth alone. But two years later, Cavor starts beaming messages to Earth. He describes the Moon and its inhabitants in detail. After he tells the Selenite’s leader of Earth’s war-like tendencies, though, he’s cut off – and never heard from again.

First Men in the Moon was a hit. It influenced scientists and other fiction writers alike for decades, inspiring more stories, plus efforts to reach the Moon – a world populated only in the imagination.

The Moon climbs into good view by about 8 o’clock tonight. Elnath – the second-brightest star of Taurus – is quite close to the Moon’s upper left.

Script by Damond Benningfield