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Why Is the Harvest Moon Big and Red?
The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the date of the Autumnal Equinox. Orbiting Earth at a shallow angle to the horizon this time of year, the moon rises at around sunset for several days in a row. Over the course of these days, the seamless transition from sunlight to moonlight provides farmers with additional time to bring crops in — and at just the right time of year for the harvest.
But the Harvest Moon provides a treat for non-farmers, too: Hanging low in the sky, it sometimes appears deep yellow or orange or even a vibrant red.
Shortly after the Harvest Moon rises, light from it passes sideways through more atmosphere than does moonlight coming from overhead. Atmospheric particles tend to scatter moonlight's bluish components more than its reddish components, which are allowed to penetrate through to your eyes. The moon thus appears redder the more atmosphere it passes through. Its color is most dramatic on nights when the atmosphere is especially muggy or hazy. [Why Does the Moon Turn Red During a Lunar Eclipse?]
The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the date of the Autumnal Equinox. Orbiting Earth at a shallow angle to the horizon this time of year, the moon rises at around sunset for several days in a row. Over the course of these days, the seamless transition from sunlight to moonlight provides farmers with additional time to bring crops in — and at just the right time of year for the harvest.
But the Harvest Moon provides a treat for non-farmers, too: Hanging low in the sky, it sometimes appears deep yellow or orange or even a vibrant red.
Shortly after the Harvest Moon rises, light from it passes sideways through more atmosphere than does moonlight coming from overhead. Atmospheric particles tend to scatter moonlight's bluish components more than its reddish components, which are allowed to penetrate through to your eyes. The moon thus appears redder the more atmosphere it passes through. Its color is most dramatic on nights when the atmosphere is especially muggy or hazy. [Why Does the Moon Turn Red During a Lunar Eclipse?]