Why does the moon change color in the fall?
asks Alex Dickinson, a student in Holtsville, NY. It just wouldn’t be fall without a huge Halloween moon glowing orange at the horizon, rising above a spooky landscape of black tree limbs and piled-up leaves. We call the moons of autumn harvest moons, but the official Harvest Moon rose on September 26th. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which fell on September 23rd this year. The Hravest Moon was probably named by farmers. Long before there were huge, gas-powered harvesters with blinding headlights, there was the bright fall moon, lighting the fields as the work of crop-gathering stretched into the night. The romantic image of the autumn moon even inspired a famous song: “Shine On Harvest Moon,” written more than 100 years ago, remained popular for much of the 20th century. (For a clip of comedic actors Laurel and Hardy performing the song, visit www.hamienet.com/midi12542_Shine-on-Harvest-Moon.html. ) The moon is a rocky gray-and-brown ball, lit up by
