Harvest Moon

All full moons rise around the time of sunset, about 50 minutes later each day. The Harvest Moon and Hunter's Moon are special because, around the time of these full moons, the time difference between moonrise on successive evenings is shorter than usual, about 20 - 30 minutes, depending on your latitude on earth. Miami's latitude is 25.78 degree North at Miami International Airport. During Harvest and Hunter's Moons, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. Farmers (good for crops) and hunters (bad for hunted animals) have moonlight to see after the sun has set so they can continue with their chores.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. About once every four years, it occurs in October in the northern hemisphere. This year, the latest possible Harvest Moon is on October 11, and this photo was taken at 7:03 PM last night. What you see in the low Miami horizon is the Harvest Moon. It is spectacular with the naked eyes because the moon seems to be bigger, brighter and more colorful than other "regular" full moons. To the naked eyes (like that I have) we see what is known as a Moon illusion, that is the moon appears bigger than when it is high in the sky. That is why the moon looks not as spectacular in this photo as it appeared to me because camera lens cannot see illusions. Besides, this is an iPhone 4, what can we expect? This is no SLR Canon camera! But it was truly a beautiful full moon, this Harvest Moon of last night. Wish you were here! I write this earlier than usual today so you have a chance to go out and look at the still beautiful near perfect full moon tonight, about a half hour after your sunset.

The Harvest Moon is also known as the Wine Moon, the Singing Moon, "Blue Corn Moon", and the Elk Call Moon. I always find a deserted place and practice my howling to lure my magical foxette. And I did that last night, really! It's similar to the Indian Love Call (The Call) in Rose Marie's musical, a 1924 operetta-style Broadway musical with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart. You want to hear what it's like?




Click on the player to hear Indian Love Call ( Rose Marie) by Cuban opera singer Hortensia Coalla