Idaho Skies Transcript for September 6th and 7th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 6th and 7th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
The moon is full on the 6th.

RACHEL
Hey, that makes it the Harvest Moon! Shine on, shine ....

PAUL
Uh, no, not quite.

RACHEL
What, why not?

PAUL
The Harvest moon is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox, and not the full moon of September.

RACHEL
Then that means 3 out of 4 full moons in September are not the Harvest Moon.

PAUL
That’s right.

RACHEL
So why do we call the full moon after the autumnal equinox the Harvest Moon?

PAUL
Because the full moon’s path across the sky is nearly level with the eastern horizon in late September.

RACHEL
Okay, so why is that important?

PAUL
Traveling level with the horizon means the moon rises further north every night.

RACHEL
But at nearly the same time?

PAUL
Yep. So at close to the time of sunset the full moon is rising.

RACHEL
And that bright moon light illuminates farm fields late into the night.

PAUL
Before the advent of electric lights, only moon light could illuminate farm fields after sunset.

RACHEL
And that allowed farmers to work late into the night, harvesting their fields.

PAUL
The song, by the way was written in 1908 for the Siegfeld Follies.

RACHEL
And it’s not about harvesting.

PAUL
Nope, it’s about a boy’s girlfriend wanting to go home because she’s afraid of the dark.

RACHEL
And her boyfriend wants to spend more time with her under the willow tree.

PAUL
So he’s asking the Harvest Moon to continue casting its light upon them.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 6th and 7th of September.

 PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.