This is the time of year that I personally love. Temperatures are a bit cooler...cool and crisp. The sky is clear. And the feel of fall is in the air. Something that happens only this time of year - the Harvest Moon.

The full moon has a different name in every month, and this month's moon - the Harvest Moon - is arguably the most well-known. Of course, we talk about it as though it's a different moon each month...but it's always the same moon! It's just that in earlier times, before the advent of the modern calendar, each month's moon was named so people could keep track of what time of year it was.

The reason the Harvest Moon is so special is that northern farmers have traditionally used the early evening moonlight from the Harvest Moon to see as they harvest their crops. Thus its name. The Harvest Moon is always the moon that falls closest to the arrival of autumn, year in and year out.

And the sky has been so clear that you have been able to see this year's Harvest Moon. I snapped the below photo last night. It was a gorgeous night, and another gorgeous night can be expected tonight...with a clear and cool sky...before autumn rains arrive late tomorrow, and then last through the weekend!

Shot of the moon as seen from Hillsboro, Oregon on the evening of September 25, 2007

Joe M.

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