| Harvest Moon |
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Harvest Moon
The harvest moon is the moon at and about the period of fullness
that is nearest to the autumnal equinox. [Wikipedia]
The moon officially turns full when it reaches that spot in the sky
opposite (180-degrees) to the sun in the sky. The moon turns out that
this full moon is also the one that comes closest on the calendar to the
September equinox. In 2009 this circumstance comes later than usual .
. . into the month of October, as opposed to the more traditional month
of September. Between 1970 and 2050, there are 18 years when the
harvest moon comes in October. The last time was in 2006 and next
time will be in 2017. [1]
A Harvest Moon is unique in that the angle of the moon's path is almost
parallel to the horizon. Normally the moon will rise about 50 minutes
later each evening. However, because of the smaller angle in the
moon's path, a Harvest Moon will rise only 20 to 25 minutes later each
evening for three nights. [3]
There is a well known optical illusion known as "the moon illusion,"
whereby the moon, when low in the sky, appears much larger than it
does when high overhead. When the moon is low in the sky, it is also
strongly subject to appearing yellow, orange, or red due to air
pollution, particularly caused by forest fires this time of year. [2]
The harvest moon gets its name because the light from the moon
allows farmers to work later hours – past sunset – and harvest staple
crops such as pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice, during this time
period. [4]
[1] Joe Rao Harvest Moon This Weekend: Late But Still Gorgeous, Yahoo
News/SPACE.com Fri Oct 2, 4:31 pm ET [2] Geoff Gaherty Don't miss
special effects of the harvest moon msnbc Oct . 1, 2009 [3] Vernon
Whetstone What size is the moon, really? mccookgazette.com October
1, 2009 [4] Amy Farnsworth Next week, keep a lookout for the harvest
moon csmonitor.com 10.01.09
The harvest moon is the moon at and about the period of fullness
that is nearest to the autumnal equinox. [Wikipedia]
The moon officially turns full when it reaches that spot in the sky
opposite (180-degrees) to the sun in the sky. The moon turns out that
this full moon is also the one that comes closest on the calendar to the
September equinox. In 2009 this circumstance comes later than usual .
. . into the month of October, as opposed to the more traditional month
of September. Between 1970 and 2050, there are 18 years when the
harvest moon comes in October. The last time was in 2006 and next
time will be in 2017. [1]
A Harvest Moon is unique in that the angle of the moon's path is almost
parallel to the horizon. Normally the moon will rise about 50 minutes
later each evening. However, because of the smaller angle in the
moon's path, a Harvest Moon will rise only 20 to 25 minutes later each
evening for three nights. [3]
There is a well known optical illusion known as "the moon illusion,"
whereby the moon, when low in the sky, appears much larger than it
does when high overhead. When the moon is low in the sky, it is also
strongly subject to appearing yellow, orange, or red due to air
pollution, particularly caused by forest fires this time of year. [2]
The harvest moon gets its name because the light from the moon
allows farmers to work later hours – past sunset – and harvest staple
crops such as pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice, during this time
period. [4]
[1] Joe Rao Harvest Moon This Weekend: Late But Still Gorgeous, Yahoo
News/SPACE.com Fri Oct 2, 4:31 pm ET [2] Geoff Gaherty Don't miss
special effects of the harvest moon msnbc Oct . 1, 2009 [3] Vernon
Whetstone What size is the moon, really? mccookgazette.com October
1, 2009 [4] Amy Farnsworth Next week, keep a lookout for the harvest
moon csmonitor.com 10.01.09
Knowledge has advantages.