Washington, Oct 5 : Astronomers have confirmed that the “shining moon” over Lake Geneva that inspired an 18-year-old Mary Shelley to write ‘Frankenstein’ is actually true, going against critics who said it was nothing but a made up story to sell her novel.

Their results shed new light on the question of whether or not Shelley’s account of the episode is merely a romantic fiction.

Shelley had claimed that she wrote her book one night in 1816 when during a “waking dream” moon shone through her window.

“Some scholars are very skeptical, they even call her a liar,” saod Donald Olson, an astronomy professor at Texas State University in San Marcos.

“But we see no reason, either in the science or in the primary sources, to doubt Mary Shelley''s account.”

Shelley at the time of writing the novel was staying at Villa Diodati in Switzerland in June of 1816 with future husband Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont and John Polidori.

The research team made extensive topographic measurements of the terrain and Villa Diodati, then combed through weather records from June of 1816. The Texas State researchers then calculated that a bright, gibbous Moon would have cleared the hillside to shine into Shelley’s bedroom window just before 2 a. m. on June 16. This calculated time is in agreement with Shelley’s witching hour reference.

Had there been no moonlight visible that night, the astronomical analysis would indicate fabrication on her part.

Instead, evidence supports Byron’s ghost story suggestion taking place June 10-13 and Shelley’s waking dream occurring between 2 a. m. and 3 a. m. on June 16, 1816.

“Mary Shelley wrote about moonlight shining through her window, and for 15 years I wondered if we could recreate that night,” Olson said.

“We did recreate it. We see no reason to doubt her account, based on what we see in the primary sources and using the astronomical clue,” he added.

The study has been published in Sky and Telescope magazine. (ANI)