Full Moon, Harvest Moon.

[AndyMac]

[move]*ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2005*[/move]

The Harvest Moon is defined as that Full Moon that occurs nearest the time of the September Equinox (9/22 this year). Legend has it that the light of the Harvest Moon allowed farmers to harvest their crops through the night. Astronomically, it occurs at a time that minimizing the daily lag between subsequent moonrises. On the average through the year, the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. Near the time of the Harvest Moon, that lag can be as short as 25 minutes or so. In addition, the geometry of the situation can make the rising Moon seem the "hang" near the horizon for longer than normal periods of time. Standard perception also seems to amplify the (illusionary) "Full Moon Effect," which makes the Moon seem larger than normal. This latter effect is a trick of human perception rather than astronomical reality.