Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon trying to shine through the cloud cover, September 29, 2012. photo by Melissa Scobey
Last night’s moon was a tribute to the season. September has been a month of beautiful weather and dry skies.
In a cloudless sky, the Harvest Moon offers a bright light for farmers to work by night.
Getting the crops off while the weather is favorable sometimes requires 24 hour dedication and the full moon sheds the much needed light during the twilight hours.
With frost-filled nights approaching the pressure is on to get those crops off.
The name was popularized in the early 20th century by the song below.
Shine On Harvest Moon
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,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal.
By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth (1903)
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/harvest-moon-2
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Category: Snapshots in FOCUS, Uncategorized
The Harvest moon is generaly a bold orange or like this one a brilliant yellow/orange. This happens when the light from the moon (setting sun) reflects off of dust and other particles in the atmosphere causing this wonderful seporation of light. When I grew up on the prarie as a girl you could see the dust kicked up by the combines and truck running on the dry soil and the orange harvest moons were often every night, full moon or not. I remember the combines in the setting sun quite fondly and now when I see the harvest moon I am drawn back to my childhood.
Christy.