Reader CarlosASantiago got this shot of the Super Harvest Moon -- and Jupiter too --Wednesday from his yard in Elgin. See more Harvest Moon photos here -- and send us yours.
You've probably heard that tonight is the autumnal equinox, the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of autumn.
But you probably haven't heard that when that happens at 10:09 p.m. tonight, there will also be a full moon, creating for the first time in 20 years a celestial event titled the Super Harvest Moon. Thanks to WGN-TV weather forecaster Jim Ramsey for the tip.
According to NASA, it's "a must-see sky show to mark the change of seasons."
As the sun sets in the west tonight (about 6:47 p.m. in Chicagoland), the moon will rise in the east, looking a little larger than usual because of what NASA calls a moon illusion -- the low-hanging orb looks wider than normal.
The autumnal equinox is the moment at which the sun's most direct rays are falling on the equator in their slow southward drift into the southern hemisphere over the coming months. Nights will grow longer than days in the weeks and months which follow. According to Wikipedia, "An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator."
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs nearest the autumnal equinox. NASA said that the moon got its name because farmers used the extra light brought by the moon to extend their harvesting time after the growing season.
Tonight, according to NASA, the Harvest Moon will reach "maximum illumination" in the sky about six hours after the equinox.
The agency reports that the last time it happened was Sept. 23, 1991, and it won't happen again until 2029.
Sunset, and moonrise, tonight should make for the best viewing. If it's not too cloudy to block the skies, be sure to take a photo and send it to us here.
And here's a little something from Mitch Miller to get you in the mood:
Unless you prefer Neil Young:
Or maybe Laurel & Hardy:
And to make the viewing of the full moon even better, check out that beautiful super STAR not far from the moon in the southern sky. It's a big, radiant Jupiter, closer to Earth than it's been for 12 years. Cue up Holst's "The Planets", 4th movement!
Makes me want to write a song "Shine on-Shine on havest moon"
Right now, it looks like it's going to be cloudy. Bummer.
Looking forward to seeing the Harvest moon and Jupiter but the weather here in WI doesn't look very promising for us to see anything but rain tonight. We are definately star watchers.
I have a hard time taking this article seriously. It quotes Wikipedia as a source. Lazy journalism!
The best version of Harvest Moon is by Cassandra Wilson. Check it out and decide for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsN-VnZwQg
thanks bill! happy it's clear here tonight.
Or Blue Oyster Cult's "Harvest Moon" from their 'Heaven Forbid" album.
Give me the Mitch Miller version!! Forget Neil Young--he can stick to Heart of Gold.
So tonight is a Super Harvest Moon even though the moon won't be completely full until Thursday night?
The full moon happens during the pre-dawn Thursday morning - not night.
Thanks so much for the Neil Young video. It's going through my had as I watch the moon outside.
Unless I missed it, why is it Super? Why is it better than any other Harvest moon? What is different than any past harvest moon in the past 20 years? And seriously, quoting Wikipedia. I wont let my high school kids do that for papers.
I agree with some others here. Why is (was) it "Super"? Because of the size? Or because the Harvest Moon, which is the first full that occurs closes to the equinox, just so happened this year to appear EXACTLY on the equinox date?
I apologize if I missed something, but it sure does not seem clear from this story.
My son and I got out his telescope around 10:00pm and it was a beautiful, clear night here in southeast Missouri. We could even see Jupiter's three moons! Awesome!
supposed to be clear down here in southern Indiana. Hope I can see it tonight and get some pictures!