Look for the big fat moon near the eastern horizon early this evening

[swag]

The moon will look huge again tonight because of its proximity to the horizon. And it's a full moon. And it may have an orange cast. It was really something last night, but tonight's the real deal.

Find your own moonrise/moonset times here:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

Harvest moon discussion:

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061001/LIFE/610010328

As the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, Friday's full moon is the harvest moon. But "harvest moon" is more than a name — there really is something special about the moon at this time of year.

There are several reasons why the harvest moon has captured our popular imagination. First, any full moon is big, bright, and easy to find. The harvest moon, however, tends to traverse the sky relatively close to the horizon. This allows us to see the moon next to familiar objects such as houses and trees, and we can appreciate just how large it really is.

What about the orange color that we associate with the harvest moon?

Actually, the moon always is the same color, but any object can take on an altered hue when near to the horizon. The Earth's atmosphere tends to tint stars, planets, and even the sun toward the reddish end of the spectrum. The lower the object is on the horizon, the greater the effect.

There's more, too. On average, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each evening. Around the time of the harvest moon, though, the difference between consecutive moonrises is a half-hour or less. The combination of these factors — a bright moon, close to the horizon, rising at about the same time for several nights in a row — makes it seem as if we have a full moon for more than one night. We remember the harvest moon as being especially large, luminous and long-lasting.

. . .

[peekaloo]

1. The Great Pumpkin!

:kick:

[zanne]

2. I love the harvest moon.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be doing some moon-gazing tonight.

[av8rdave]

3. I was enjoying it this morning...

Went out for my run at around 6 am central time, as it was getting ready to set in the western sky. Beautiful!

[cwydro]

4. it was gorgeous all night

and especially this morning over the ocean...We have been having enormous tides and the moon is just beautiful rising...Thanks for the update. I must be sure to be out tonight when it rises..:)

[nosillies]

5. Thanks for the details...I'll be at the beach tonight for the view!

The moon kind of kept me up last night, shining in my window, but I don't hold a grudge:D

[cwydro]

6. sure

come on over! Yeah, it shines in my window too, but over the sea it's so pretty, I can't complain...:hi:

[swag]

7. tiny reminder

from little tinyhead

[Sequoia]

8. Run out and get some Moon Cakes

also because it's the Chinese Lunar Festival where you eat round food that's red, or just red food. Eat the cakes while you look at the moon but heck of all heck's it's cloudy here and I was so planning on it!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Overcast skies here.

I love the harvest moon. Love rainy fall nights too.