Last night was the autumnal equinox. Summer has ended and autumn has begun.

The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon, since farmers can take advantage of the light of this full moon to harvest their fall crops late into the night.

The sun and moon share a 19 year cycle, which is why the Jewish calendar has a 19 year cycle. Every 19 years the sun and moon repeat their position in relation to the earth.

Once every 19 years, the Harvest Moon rises on the autumnal equinox as the sun sets directly in the west.

According to Joseph Campbell, the plains Indians celebrated this day, because they could see both horizons and there appeared to be two suns in the sky at the same times at opposite ends of the earth.

The moon rises on average 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the moon seems to rise nearly the same time each night, only 25 to 30 minutes later.

This is because the tilt of the earth is sideways to the sun at the autumnal equinox.

So, you can still get out tonight for a spectular view of a gorgeous moon rise at sunset. I like the one from the Paynes Prairie overlook on the boardwalk off 441, where you can see the horizon. Wear long pants and sleeves to protect from the mosquitos.

The bright star near the moon is Jupiter.