September and October in Michigan. Harvest Moons, corn mazes, trees creating spectacular landscapes, crisp, clear, sweet air, last hikes without snow – who doesn’t like Autumn? But do we ever think of the moon as changing colors like the trees? Like all things in nature, it has its courses to run and rules to adhere to.
My mother and I traveled to Chicago one autumn weekend to see my brother’s art show (which, of course, was fabulous). We got going very early that Saturday morning, and it wasn’t long before we were driving straight at a huge, horizon-height moon. Truly, it seemed like we would drive straight into it. It was more creams and yellows, and maybe orange, than white. Despite its warmer colors, I expect that if we could have driven into it, it would have been cold rather than warm, yet incredibly bright, despite its mellower tones. The warm tints would have engulfed us into its yellowed, autumn colors and faraway coolness, because it is so much wilder and larger than we can comprehend.
It was a harvest moon. I have never before or since seen a harvest moon so colorful and so HUGE. I have seen some impressive ones, but nothing compared to that year’s moon. It must have been a supermoon, as they look larger since they are at their closest to Earth. As a harvest moon (so called due to pre-electricity days when the farmers utilized its brightness to harvest, or bring in, the crops during the rapidly shortening autumn days), its color would have been caused by the maximum thickness of atmosphere due to being so close to the horizon – just like a sunrise or sunset. Perhaps it may also have been because we were several hundred miles south from what we were used to seeing. Night falls earlier just three hours south of us, so who knows?
The science behind our surrounding existence is fascinating. And my title, while appropriate for that particular moon, is just as appropriate for this time of year, for Halloween is around the corner and I'm sure we’ll be seeing some wee monsters when it strikes. But, no matter what science caused that majestic, amazing moon’s appearance, that moon will stay with me forever.
This year's harvest moon (Space.com) will be seen at its best at 5:57 a.m. EST today. But will rise again tonight at 6:59 p.m., if you missed it this morning! (Google for more info.)
Phys.org; NASA Science Space Place
Photo by: LeoEspina (Pixabay)
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