Sky watch: New memories on harvest moon

Hardly a person on the planet doesn't know that next Sunday, Sept. 11, is the 10th anniversary of one of the most tragic days in American history. If you recall the fear and confusion on that dreadful day, you may also recall how many of us, at least for a time, reconnected with what's important in life.

Too bad we often need tragic events to remind us of simple pleasures, especially when there are so many all around us. And that is where the moon comes in.

On Sunday night, the moon is full and will offer an opportunity to forget the memories of that day and create some new ones. On that afternoon, head toward a hilltop with a clear view of the eastern horizon.

There, you'll see the rising of the famous harvest moon.

The harvest moon offered value to farmers of old, who named the full moon closest to the first day of autumn in honor of the corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and wild rice that were ready for gathering at that time of year.

Officially the moon achieves its "full" phase at 5:57 a.m. on Sept. 12, but will appear full to the eye on the night before and after this.

Many believe the harvest moon appears larger and redder than at any other time of the year, but it always appears redder when rising, since its light must pass through a greater path of atmosphere on its way to our eye.

As for the apparent immensity of the harvest moon, it's no different than any other time we see it rising in the east. Its seemingly huge size is the result of an optical trick known as the moon illusion.

In fact, the harvest moon isn't the only one to have a name. Native Indians of North America had names for the full moons of every month of the year. For example, the full moon of June was known to every Algonquin tribe as the strawberry moon, and the Europeans called it the rose moon -- probably because it shines low all night long in the Northern Hemisphere's sky, where our atmosphere gives it a pinkish color.

And the December full moon was known by some native tribes as the cold moon or the long nights moon because, at this time of year, the winter cold fastens its grip, and the nights are longest and darkest.

OK, enough of all this science and history stuff. Now get out there and make some wonderful new memories under the silvery light of the harvest moon.