Monday,  October 1, 2012 • Vol. 13--No. 076 • 11 of 27 •  Other Editions

(Continued from page 10)

rises is now at a maximum at southerly latitudes.
• What is the ecliptic?
• In March, the ecliptic is nearly perpendicular to the evening horizon in the Northern Hemisphere. That's why, in March, the eastward (and southward) motion of the moon in orbit carries the moon far below the horizon from one evening to the next. So in the spring there is a long time, an hour or more, between successive moonrises around the time of full moon.
• But at northerly latitudes at this time of year - due to the narrow angle of the ecliptic - the moon's daily change of position after the full Harvest Moon is mostly sideways with respect to the horizon from one night to the next. So there's a shorter time between successive moonrises, only about half an hour at mid-northern latitudes.
• In either hemisphere, watch for tonight's waning gibbous moon to rise north of due east, but to rise considerably sooner after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere. Shine on Harvest Moon!

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