Posted on 09/21/2007 9:05:14 AM PDT by anymouse
The moon of Wednesday, Sept. 26 also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.
The moon officially turns full when it reaches that spot in the sky diametrically opposite (180 degrees) to the sun in the sky. This moment will occur on Wednesday at 19:45 Greenwich Time (3:45 p.m. EDT or 12:45 p.m. PDT). Wednesday's full moon is the one that comes the closest to the September equinox so this year it falls in September, although in one out of three years this title can be bestowed upon the October full moon (as was the case in 2006).
Many think that the Harvest Moon remains in the night sky longer than any of the other full moons we see during the year, but that is not so.
What sets Wednesday's full moon apart from the others is that farmers – at the climax of the current harvest season – can work late into the night by the moon's light. It rises about the time the sun sets, but more importantly, at this time of year, instead of rising its normal average 50 minutes later each day, the moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night.
In analyzing local moonrise times for Sept. 25, 26 and 27 in 10 locations across North America, the rising of the moon comes, on average, less than 27 minutes later each night. The night-to-night difference is greatest for the more southerly locations. (Miami, located at near latitude 26-degrees N., sees moonrise come an average of 37 minutes later). Meanwhile, the difference is less at more northerly locations (at Edmonton, Alberta, located at latitude 53.6-degrees N, the average difference is just 12 minutes).
The reason for this seasonal circumstance is that the moon appears to move along the ecliptic, and at this time of year when rising, the ecliptic makes its smallest angle with respect to the horizon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.
In contrast, for those living in the Southern Hemisphere, the ecliptic at this time of year appears to stand almost perpendicular (at nearly a right angle) to the eastern horizon. As such, the difference for the time of moonrise exceeds the average of 50 minutes per night. At Sydney, Australia, for instance, the night-to-night rise time difference amounts to about 71 minutes.
Friday night too... better check the weapons.
Better harvest today since it will be in the 20s tonight. Actually, the growing season ended a couple weeks ago and the noise level from falling leaves in the taiga forest is intense. Yes, there are deciduous in the taiga forest.
“George Bailey Lassos the Moon!”
Question: In order to qualify for the title of Harvest Moon doesn’t it have to be the second full moon within a given month?
Somebody at Space.com wrote this? The moon is full when it’s exactly 180 degrees away?
Depends on what plane you live on. Kinda almost maybe sounds like they are trying to say the moon is only full during a total lunar eclipse.
I know what they’re saying, but they coulda said it better.
So that’s why the tinfoil loonies where out on FR in full force last night!
That’s the Blue Moon. It isn’t blue, either.
Had to check your location because its 86 right now on my back deck here in Michigan......Must be semi-global warming here and semi-global cooling where you are. I'm happy with the warming.....
This should really set off all the Liberal Lunatics!
64 north
I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or July.
I thought that was a blue moon.
Indeed.
I suppose you could put it this way:
A full moon occurs when the angle between the sun-Earth vector, and the vector along the projection of the Earth-moon vector onto the ecliptic plane, is 180 degrees.
However, since the moon is only about 5 degrees from the ecliptic anyway, "180 degrees" is close enough.
I never been to the ecliptic plane.
Lol! Close enough for gummint work!
Harvest Moon
First verse
The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,
For the moon refused to shine.
Couple sitting underneath a willow tree,
For love they did pine.
Little maid was kinda ‘fraid of darkness
So she said, “I guess I’ll go.”
Boy began to sigh, looked up at the sky,
And told the moon his little tale of woe
[edit] Chorus
Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Up in the sky;
I ain’t had no lovin’
Since January, February, June or July.
Snow time ain’t no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon;
Shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
For me and my gal.
[edit] Second verse
I can’t see why a boy should sigh,
When by his side is the girl he loves so true,
All he has to say is:
“Won’t you be my bride,
For I love you,
I can’t see why I’m telling you this secret,
When I know that you can guess.”
Harvest moon will smile,
Shine on all the while,
If the little girl should answer “yes.”
(repeat chorus)
no that’s a blue moon.
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