Best 2011 Harvest Moon pictures from EarthSky Friends
Image Credit: ruthdaniel
Here is the celebrity of the hour – perhaps the best-known moon of them all – the legendary Harvest Moon. The moon reached the crest of its full phase at 09:27 Universal Time this morning, on September 12. That was 4:27 a.m. this morning for the central U.S.
All of us around the globe find tonight’s moon in the same approximate place as every full moon – in the east as the sun sets and twilight begins to wash the sky. It’s this big red Harvest Moon – ascending over the eastern horizon around the time of sunset – that everyone writes songs about. You’ll see why if your sky is clear and you have a lovely setting for moonrise tonight.
September 2011 guide to the five visible planets
Like any full moon, the Harvest Moon rises at sunset and shines all night long. So what’s special about the Harvest Moon? On the average, the moon rises 50 minutes later every night. But not the Harvest Moon! At mid-northern latitudes, the Harvest Moon rises 25 to 30 minutes later for several evenings in a row. And at far northern latitudes, the Harvest Moon rises five to 10 minutes later for several evenings in succession.
In the days before electricity, farmers counted on the lamp of the Harvest Moon to gather their crops. Making up for the autumn season’s waning daylight, the Harvest Moon faithfully provides several nights of dusk-till-dawn moonlight. This bonanza of moonlight remains the legacy of the Harvest Moon!
Why isn’t there an eclipse every full moon?
I wish i will witness the harvest moon with my granny so that she can tell me more but ag am alone……….
ja ja what a surprise harvest moon?
This is pretty cool, because today is my son’s 38th birthday!
Can’t wait! I’m headed north to my farm to watch it rise in solitude.
Shine-on Harvest moon!
This is really beautiful. I love this time of year. I really like this website. I just added it to my favs. I am a Libra and it is my time to shine. Plus the coming of the cooler weather, pumpkins and the last of the farmers market and then we hibernate is awesome. The seasons are amaizing. All though Summer was just a bit too hot this year. I sit on the porch now and watch nature have fun. Thank you Mother Nature. Thank you God.
Ditto that fellow Libran.
Cheers, to Deborah Byrd and Earthsky. Loved seeing the lyrics in this article to that old, but not so forgotten song, “Shine On Harvest Moon”. My dear, and never forgotten mom, would often sing this song to my sisters and I many wonderful Harvest Moons ago.
It’s 7:!9 PM CST, do you know where your moon is?
OK, I’m in Georgia, USA. I was just looking online to see what moon this month has.
Now that I’ve read your comments, I must go outside and watch Gods amazing work:) It’s 9:10 pm here. I’ll take pic and hopefully post later.
Gaynellie
Georgia
It’s a full moon and my dogs half wolf sooo it won’t stop barking
I had just gone out with my dog and noticed the unbelievable moon! I had to look it up and see what its status was. I found this site and you all taught me it was a harvest moon!! Amazing! So interesting to read about how the farmers used to utilize the moon!! Makes me think of Neil Youngs song, ” Harvest Moon”! Would love to be sitting on a porch in the south listening to that and gazing at the moon right now!! Although it is truly a beautiful sight here in NY after yesterdays solemn 9/11 remembrance! We’ll never forget!! :)
[...] days past the Harvest Moon, I welcome the gift of freshly picked tangerines and avocados. I am a wealthy woman in abundance. [...]