Yorkshire, England — Late December 1200
Five Moons in formation
“In the third year of John, King of England, there were seen in Yorkshire five Moons; one in the East, the second in the West, the third in the North, the fourth in the South, and the fifth (as it were) set in the midst of the other, having many Blazing Stars about it, and went five or six times encompassing the other, as it were the space of one hour, and shortly after vanished away.”
Source: William Knight, ” Mementos to the World, or, An historical collection of divers wonderful comets and prodigious signs in heaven…” (printed by T. Haly, for T. Passinger, London, 1681). Note: King John reigned from April 6, 1199 until his death in 1216. The third year of his reign would therefore correspond with 1202 AD. However, another writer, Roger de Hoveden, states it occurred “a little before the Nativity of the Lord,” 1200. As Hoveden himself died in 1201, we think the sighting probably took place in King John’s second year of reign. Case: W058