Sky Notes: December 2010
December 2010 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the December 2010 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
I was asked a question the other day concerning the monthly names of our Moon. As time has gone by, and most people don’t even see the giant object in the sky, we should stop and remember how important the Moon was as a seasonal reminder, especially this time of year.
Although we normally consider the Full Moon of September the Harvest Moon, it actually is the first Full Moon after the autumnal equinox, the beginning of fall. At that time, the Moon is located at a relatively flat position of the ecliptic, causing it to rise earlier than usual. The Moon, in its path around the Earth, normally moves about 14 degrees eastward each day, appearing in the sky about an hour later. At the equinox time, the Moon rises just about a half hour from one night to the next during the days from before to after the Full Moon, giving more light and allowing time to harvest the crops for a longer time, giving rise to the name Harvest Moon.
The next Full Moon takes place after all the fields have been harvested. At that time, because there are no plants left, there is no place for many of the animals to hide, and it is an easy time for the hunters to ready themselves for the long winter to come – the Hunter Moon.
November, because the weather is starting to turn cold, it was time to look for clothing and blankets that would keep the residents warm. One of the more plentiful animals was beaver. Therefore, it was time to set traps before the waters froze. Also, the beavers, in kind, would be building their housing for the winter. Both activities gave this Full Moon the term Beaver.
And, then for December, the Full Moon is located on the ecliptic at the position of the Sun during summer. For us it means the Moon travels at its highest path across the sky, staying in the sky for the longest of the year. And, because our nighttimes are longest, this is the Long Night Moon. It is also referred to as the Full Cold Moon, because of the approach of the coldest season of the year, even though as we know the really cold nights don’t normally happen until late January and February.
Finally, this December Moon will be especially important for us because of the total lunar eclipse, the first visible from here in several years. Enjoy the view.
