Monday, June 1, 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Moonlit Path



MOONLIT PATH

Try too reach and touch the stars.
Imagine them sifting through your fingers
As in a deep, silent pool.
The full moon above
Shines down coldly upon us
And colors the earth in shades
Of blue, black and gray.

A slight breeze stirs the air,
Carrying sounds from far away.
A dog barks in the distance,
A train rolls through town
On a late night run to somewhere.

Light, wispy clouds pass by from the north,
And briefly cover the moon like a veil,
Before they drift away.
The breeze softly rustles
The dry cornstalks left in the field.

This peaceful night;
This beautiful, peaceful night.
All alone, you and I,
In this world of blue and gray,
Walking the snowy, moonlit path,
Gazing up to the heavens,
Hoping to someday touch the stars.

author unknown

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Chinese Poetry About The Moon



The moon, along with fine wine and beautiful women, is a favorite topic for the Chinese poets.



On Climbing You-Chou Terrace

Ahead I cannot see the ancient faces,

Behind I cannot see the coming sages.

I brood upon the endlessness of Nature,

Lonely and sick at heart, with falling tears.

Chen Ziang Poetry

Sunday, May 10, 2009

First Moon Landing 1969

Who could ever forget this video!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

Harvest Moon


Why is the harvest moon called the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is a full moon that graces our skies each autumn. It’s the name for the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, look for the Harvest Moon to appear in September or October.
Why the name Harvest Moon? It’s more than just a connection to the season of harvest. In fact, nature is particularly cooperative during the months of autumn to make the Harvest Moon useful to farmers.
Here’s what happens. The moon generally rises about 50 minutes later each day. But near the time of the autumnal equinox, the moon rises only about 30 minutes later each day. Why? The reason is that, in autumn, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon. The moon’s path in autumn creates a shorter-than-usual rising time between successive moonrises.

The shorter-than-usual time between moonrises means there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise . . .
So, in the days before tractor lights, the autumn full moon helped farmers bringing in their crops.
As the sun’s light faded in the west, the full moon would rise in the east to illuminate the fields for several more hours of work. Who named the Harvest Moon? That name probably sprang to the lips of farmers throughout the northern hemisphere, on autumn evenings, as the autumn full moon aided in bringing in the crops.