Watch out for the Super Harvest Moon   
       
   Sept. 22, 2010:  For the first time in almost 20 years, northern autumn is   
   beginning on the night of a full Moon. The coincidence sets the stage for a   
   "Super Harvest Moon" and a must-see sky show to mark the change of seasons.   
       
   The action begins at sunset on Sept 22nd, the last day of northern summer. As   
   the sun sinks in the west, bringing the season to a close, the full Harvest   
   Moon will rise in the east, heralding the start of fall. The two sources of   
   light will mix together to create a kind of 360-degree, summer-autumn twilight   
   glow that is only seen on rare occasions.   
   [...]   
   The Harvest Moon of Oct. 3, 2009, photographed by Catalin M. Timosca of Turda,   
   Romania.   
   Keep an eye on the Moon as it creeps above the eastern skyline. The golden orb   
   may appear strangely inflated. This is the Moon illusion at work. For reasons   
   not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, a low-hanging Moon   
   appears much wider than it really is. A Harvest Moon inflated by the moon   
   illusion is simply gorgeous.   
       
   The view improves as the night wears on.   
   [...]   
   A Moon-Jupiter conjunction on Aug. 26, 2010. Credit: Tom Cocchiaro. Northern   
   summer changes to fall on Sept. 22nd at 11:09 pm EDT. At that precise moment,   
   called the autumnal equinox, the Harvest Moon can be found soaring high   
   overhead with the planet Jupiter right beside it. The two brightest objects in   
   the night sky will be in spectacular conjunction to mark the change in seasons.   
       
   The Harvest Moon gets its name from agriculture. In the days before electric   
   lights, farmers depended on bright moonlight to extend the workday beyond   
   sunset. It was the only way they could gather their ripening crops in time for   
   market. The full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox became "the Harvest   
   Moon," and it was always a welcome sight.   
       
   This one would be extra welcome because it is extra "Harvesty."   
       
   Usually, the Harvest Moon arrives a few days to weeks before or after the   
   beginning of fall. It's close, but not a perfect match. The Harvest Moon of   
   2010, however, reaches maximum illumination a mere six hours after the   
   equinox. This has led some astronomers to call it the "Harvestest Moon" or a   
   "Super Harvest Moon." There hasn't been a comparable coincidence since Sept   
   23, 1991, when the difference was about 10 hours, and it won't happen again   
   until the year 2029.   
       
   A Super Harvest Moon, a rare twilight glow, a midnight conjunction-rarely does   
   autumn begin with such celestial fanfare.   
       
   Enjoy the show!   
       
       
   Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA   
       
   More Information   
   The Harvestest of Harvest Moons --- from Jack Horkheimer, Stargazer   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.55   
    * Origin: NCS BBS (1:3828/7)