People Pathways to sponsor Friday walk for Harvest Moon

Long meaningful for the extra light it gave to farmers harvesting their crops, the Harvest Moon isn’t so much an astronomical term for most people, as it is a poetic reference point, a part of our shared folklore.

However, there are very real, scientific reasons the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox tends to be bigger, brighter and more colorful than other full moons.

With this year’s equinox just 10 days later, the Harvest Moon will rise at 8:12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.

To celebrate the event, People Pathways is sponsoring the Harvest Moon Walk at 8 p.m. Friday at Big Walnut Sports Park.

Professor Howard Brooks of the DePauw University physics and astronomy department will explain the astronomy of the phenomenon and why the Harvest Moon is more than just a poetic reference point or a very good Neil Young song.

The public is invited to come learn more about the Harvest Moon or to simply have a good walk under the moon and stars.

Should the weather not cooperate (30 percent chance of thunderstorms as of Tuesday evening), the rain date is set for Saturday, Sept. 14.