Friday, September 24, 2010

A Spectacular Autumnal Equinox

Friends,

2010 presents a unique changeover to the Fall. This is the time of the Harvest Moon...the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox -- September 22, 23. This year, it falls right on the equinox, which will not happen again until 2029. When the moon sits on the horizon, the dust in the atmosphere makes it appear as if it is an orange color...and this, our family has affectionately called "the better cheddar moon" (as seen below). What makes it even more unique is that the planet Jupiter is as close to the Earth as it will be for at least a dozen years, and is the closest it has been since 1963...so it appears as bright in the night sky as our planetary neighbor closer to the Sun -- Venus. When viewed together for the next couple of nights, the Moon and Jupiter will present a spectacular sight.

Blessings,
Don



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