Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory

When:

Friday September 16, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Cost:

$1 Suggested Donation per Person

Tonight is the Harvest Moon Celebration at Frosty Drew Observatory and the skies look amazing! Forecasts are calling for clear skies nearly all night long with a chance of light haze. Add in the cooler, autumn-like temps, and we’ll have excellent conditions to be out under the Harvest Moon. As a bonus, lightly hazy conditions coupled with cooler temps could result in a stunning 22° lunar halo around the Harvest Moon. Certainly the makings for an astonishing night to be out.

We will open the Observatory and Sky Theatre at 7:30 p.m. In the Observatory telescopes will showcase Saturn’s fabulous rings and the super bright full Harvest Moon. In the Sky Theatre, we will showcase hundreds of celestial objects photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory. Binary stars will be on display periodically in our telescopes as we revel in the bright moon light. We will stay open until at least 11:30 p.m. and will post a “Closing up” message to our Twitter (@FrostyDrewOBSY) and Facebook when we decide to wrap it up.

Overall, tonight looks like a killer night! The cool temps will make for comfortable viewing conditions and a nice drop in the mosquito feast we have seen on warmer nights. If super dark skies is your digs, then tonight will disappoint with the super bright Moon sticking around all night. Though if you’re into the Moon, then the Harvest Moon is the night to get your Lunatic on! So grab a jacket and put some awesome into your Friday night plans with a stop-in at Frosty Drew Observatory to celebrate the Harvest Moon and give summer a proper send off.

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Weekly Happenings
Scott MacNeill

This coming Thursday, September 22nd at 10:21 a.m. EDT, the Sun will cross Earth’s equator marking the Autumnal Equinox. At this time, Earth with be neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun. Those who live along Earth’s equator will see the Sun rise due East, pass directly over head (zenith) at noon, and set due West. This will allow for nearly equal duration of day and night times worldwide. Since we are neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun, sunrise and sunset times will be the same for corresponding locations in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Autumnal Equinox also signals a shift in day and night duration to the part of the year with longer nights in the Northern Hemisphere. All that aside, Thursday is the first day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and with it comes beautiful autumn colors, pumpkin pie, Oktoberfest, spooky décor, maniacal leaf-peeping, lunar halos, and the inevitable dive into super short days with cooler temps – a stargazers utopia. So step out midday Thursday and welcome the start of the Autumn season and all the amazing (and maybe not so great) trappings that come with it.

Tonight (September 16, 2016) brings the Harvest Moon, which is the closest Full Moon to the Autumnal Equinox. The Harvest Moon, though loaded with folklore, does not generally appear any different in shape, size, or color than any other full Moon. Though orbital dynamics will bring some interesting differences to the Harvest Moon, including the path the Moon takes through the sky and where along the horizon the Moon will rise and set. Being that the Moon orbits the Earth inclined 5° to the ecliptic (plane of the Solar System), the Moon will rise and set along Earth’s equator allowing the Harvest Moon to follow a similar path across the sky as the Sun. Additionally, tonight’s Moon is about two days away from it’s closest approach to Earth in its current 27.3 day orbital period around the planet, making the Moon appear slightly larger than many other full lunar phases of the year. Though the annual Supermoon (the closest full Moon of the year) will happen on November 14th. Tonight’s Harvest Moon will also bring a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, which is when the Moon passes into Earth’s penumbra (secondary shadow), causing one side of the Moon to dim to a darker-grey color. Unfortunately, the Penumbral Eclipse, which happens at 2:54 p.m. EDT, will not be visible to any of us in the United States. Though you can see the eclipse live this afternoon compliments of Slooh. Regardless, the Harvest Moon signals the start of Autumn and a heads up on all the fabulous harvest festivals and Fall activities happening in New England. Set out at sunset tonight to a spot with a low view of the Eastern horizon and catch a beautiful view of the full Harvest Moon rising.

-Scott