Between now and then we'd like to tell you about a celestial event you might like to appreciate and better understand. The event is the full harvest moon. Practically every culture celebrates the harvest moon, which happens on the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox. As discussed in the vernal equinox post in March, day and night last for equally long times as the earth reverses its tilt along its axis. The autumnal equinox begins when the earth's tilt changes to a northward direction; the reverse of this tilt change is in the spring. The autumnal equinox in northern Florida occurs on September 22 at 10:49PM. This year's full harvest moon takes place on September 8 at 9:30PM, well ahead of the equinox. Does the timing discrepancy mean that this full moon is not a "true" harvest moon? Find out why it's called the "harvest moon."
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