Autumn's Providence: Harvest Moon

by Nancy Mehegan

Call it Providence or Planetary Mechanics

Have you noticed a reddish golden moon in the sky?  The bright golden full moons that occur in September & October may be providential. 

Nature provides more light by moonlight when farmers needed it most -- early farmers relied on the bright "Harvest Moon' for light to get their crops before the frosts set in.  The full moon called the "Harvest Moon"  appears to shine brighter and more golden than during normal full moons.  

The "Harvest Moon" is the full moon that occurs closest to the date of the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (when day and night are equal length), which is Sep 22 2009  5:18 PM EDT.  

Moon Rise

The timing of moonrises change in the autumn.  Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each successive night.  However,for the few nights around the equinox, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night.  And when you gaze at it, the moon looks very large and golden and gives a lot of light throughout the entire night. 

Why does the Harvest Moon seem brighter?

One explanation is the air is drier, which increases the sharpness of vision.  Another is seeing the moon low in the sky, you are actually looking at it through a greater amount of atmosphere than when the moon is overhead. Molecules in the atmosphere scatter the bluish component of white moonlight but allows the reddish component of the light to travel a straighter path to your eyes, making the moon look more red. 

Some say that dust from the disturbed soil of crops being harvested sends more dust particles into the atmosphere, scattering even more light.

When is the Harvest Moon in 2009?

October 4

Don't miss it!!  Native Americans called it "Corn Moon" and considered it a sign to harvest the corn.  I was in a forest once on a mountain when the Harvest Moon rose through the trees and I fell to the ground -- it was so HUGE and BRIGHT and beautiful, it surprised and shocked me.  I'll never forget it.

So enjoy your Harvest Moon this year and bring your camera (and don't fall down)

The Hunter's Moon is the first full moon after the harvest moon. The Hunter's Moon is so named because plenty of moonlight is ideal for hunters to stalk prey to stockpile food for winter ahead.  (more about that to come...)

Comments

[Nancy Mehegan]

Laura, It really is a special time of year. The sky is not to be missed. I had never known the explanation for the golden moon at this time and it was fun researching. Thanks for your kind comments. ~ Nancy Mehegan

[Laura]

I love the moon in autumn. Great post, Nancy. I also love it in the morning when it is waning and almost looks like another cloud in the sky after the sun comes up.

[Rita@Goldivas]

Oh, thank you for this post - I've marked my calendar and will plan accordingly!