COLD MOON AND A FEW PRECEDING MOONS OVER JEFFERSON PARK

COLD MOON AND A FEW PRECEDING MOONS OVER JEFFERSON PARK

While winter officially arrived on Saturday, December 21, 2019 – the December moon also known as the Cold Moon arrived a few days earlier – on December 12.

I love our moon.

I also love Jefferson Park – our house, on Cooley Avenue, faces the park from the south side.

So whenever I am out – either playing solo tennis or taking a walk around the park or returning home from Riverside School where I am a volunteer teacher for two days (this is my 15th year) and I see our moon – I am so thrilled.

Our moon – in whatever shape – new, waxing, full, or waning – is always a sight to behold -- a marvel in our mysterious Universe.

Formed 4.6 billion years ago – our moon always presents the same face to us – because it spins on its axis at the same rate it orbits planet Earth.

Because of frequent overcast skies over Cleveland, Ohio – the moon is not always visible when it is out.

Sometimes I have to wait a few days, after full moon, to see our moon.

DECEMBER MOON:

The first two photographs are for the December full moon that was visible on the evening of December 12.

Fortunately it was not overcast. I took the first photograph (the lead photograph in the post) over the tennis courts just as an airplane bound for the airport was passing by. So here are two lit objects in the night sky – one nearly 240,000 miles away and one only a few hundred feet.

The second photograph, shown below, taken over the park -- shows the tree branches in the foreground.

A FEW PREVIOUS MOONS;

I have been photographing our moon for the past few months.

While photographing – sometimes in addition to the reflected light coming down from our moon, there is additional light coming from street lamps, surveillance cameras, or light reflected from some houses with white outside surfaces.

The combination of various lights provides an interesting mix in an otherwise dark sky.

On clear nights – in the absence of clouds, the moon can be seen clearly. However, when it is fully overcast – the moon is nowhere to be seen. But when the clouds are passing by – the light from the hidden moon brightens the clouds creating a very luminscent effect.

NOVEMBER MOON:

Also known as the Beaver Moon, the full moon arrived on November 12, 2019.

Because of overcast skies, I was able to photograph the waning moon a few days later – on the evening of November 16. Because the moon was definitely waning – because of the bright light – the two photographs show the moon very much like a full moon.

OCTOBER MOON:

Also known as the Hunter’s Moon, the full moon arrived on October 13, 2019.

Again because of overcast skies, I was unable to photograph the full Moon. Fortunately, I had already photographed the waxing moon as it passed over our house on the evening of October 10.

The first photograph shows the light from the moon and the street , the second photograph shows the moon partially obscured by the passing clouds.

SEPTEMBER MOON:

Also known as the Corn Moon, the full moon arrived on September 14, 2019.

Fortunately, there were no overcast skies or passing clouds and I was able to photograph the full moon from two different locations as shown.

AUGUST MOON:

Also known as the Sturgeon Moon, the full moon arrived on August 15, 2019.

Again, because of mostly clear skies, I was able to photograph the full moon.

The first photograph shows light from the moon competing with lights from the street.

The second photograph shows passing clouds (they seem to come out of nowhere) partially covering the moon.

NEXT FULL MOON:

The full January 2020 full moon, also known as the Wolf Moon or Moon after Yule, should be visible in our area on January 10.

Have a happy lunar month!

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