[MIham] See the Harvest Moon this Weekend

[Frank]

Space Weather News for Oct. 2, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

HARVEST MOON: This weekend's full Moon has a special name--the Harvest Moon. 
It's the full moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox (Sept. 22). In 
years past, farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to gather 
ripening crops late into the night. Now we appreciate it mainly for its 
beauty.  Go outside this weekend and enjoy the moonlight.

SOLAR MINIMUM RETURNS: Two sunspots, which appeared on the autumnal equinox 
to break several months of extreme solar quiet, have faded away, leaving the 
sun blank once again. The deepest solar minimum in nearly a hundred years 
appears poised to continue. NASA spacecraft are now reporting a surge in 
cosmic rays around Earth caused, somewhat ironically, by this low solar 
activity.  The full story may be found at http://spaceweather.com .