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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, September 8-11, 2018 The Park Record Harvest moon illusions: an explainer Astrophotographer breaks down autumn moons JIMMY WESTLAKE Special to Steamboat Today STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Summer ends and autumn begins this year at 7:54 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, when the sun crosses the celestial equator, heading south. Just two days later, the moon turns full. The first full moon of autumn traditionally is called the Harvest Moon. You’ll see that big Harvest Moon peek over our eastern mountains on Monday, Sept. 24, just as the last rays of the sun are dying in the western sky. Watch for something unusual for several days surrounding this month’s full moon. The moon normally rises about 50 minutes later each successive night, but at the time of the Harvest Moon, it rises only about 25 minutes later each night. This means that a big, bright, full moon takes the sun’s place and provides a little extra light for several nights in a row, just as darkness falls. Farmers especially welcomed the extended hours of light provided by this full moon, right at the peak time of harvesting the fields. The Harvest Moon effect is even more pronounced as you head north. In fact, up around the latitude of Anchorage, Alaska, the Harvest Moon actually can rise earlier the second night. That’s just weird. It all has to do with the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth on its axis and the 5-degree tilt of the moon’s orbit, relative to the Earth’s. Some folks claim that the Harvest Moon looks much big- ger than other full moons. When seen near the horizon, the rising full moon can appear abnormally large in size. How big does it look to you? As big as a pumpkin? Believe it or not, you can cover that giant full moon with the tip of your pinky finger held out at arm’s length. The moon’s enormous appearance when seen near the horizon is a famous optical illusion called the “moon illusion.” It is really no larger when seen near the horizon than it is when seen up overhead. You can prove it to yourself. On Monday, Sept. 24, when you first see that big full moon rising in the eastern sky, hold up your pinky finger at arm’s length and observe that you really can totally eclipse the moon with that tiny appendage. Later that evening, when the moon has risen higher in the sky, perform the same experiment. Seeing is believing — the results will be the Vail concert benefits victims Event organizer knows fire’s toll firsthand chestra and Scott Rednor kicked things off. Also appearing were Rob Eaton Jr., Terry and Jeff Armistead, Joe Bianchi, Bob Masters, Peter Fontanese, Dave Perron, Sean Healey, Eric Heil, Mauricio Cadavid, Brian Jordan, Dave Donahue, Mike Crosby, Sam Bee, Dave Tucker, Scott Loss, Johnny Schleper and Brian Loftus. Brian Loftus has seen firsthand what a benefit concert like this one can do for those in need. A year ago, the drummer was on stage playing a show when he suffered a brain aneurysm and collapsed. “Luckily, it did not rupture, so my coordination is still there, all the practice over the years is still there, the muscle memory is still there,” Loftus said. “So I feel blessed to still be able to keep playing music.” The Minturn community came together and threw a benefit concert for Loftus, again with Wolf’s help, which assisted Loftus in his efforts to start playing again. Loftus’ band, the Brian Loftus Trio, is known around the valley as BLT. “The community did a fundraiser for me right away, before I really even knew what was going on,” he said. Loftus is currently undergoing radiation treatments, and has to keep his heart rate down. “I just have to listen to my body,” he said. “I can’t rock out too much just yet, but I can defi- nitely play … I’m able to keep going and keep doing it, and now there’s this opportunity to help other people — neighbors in need — so I really wanted to be a part of that.” Wolf and Loftus double drummed for most of the night, with Wolf nervously organizing the event and Loftus trying to keep his heart rate down. “I know my heart rate will be through the roof,” Wolf said with a laugh. “So hopefully he can just chillax and play.” Wolf had five different sets planned, with a silent auction taking place during the first two sets. A $15 donation to go to the relief fund was suggested at the door. The money raised will go to the local chapter of the Salvation Army, which has been charged with distributing funds in similar events in the past. “With the fire at the Quintana mobile home park in Minturn, Colorado, in March, we developed a point system to keep it equitable,” said Tsu Wollen Brown. “Most people who donate just want to make sure the funds go to need it most, so we will try to work that out with everyone.” Wolf said with the Salvation Army based nearby in Avon and Brown being heavily involved in the community, they were the logical choice to oversee the distribution of payments. “Hopefully we raise enough money were we can help everyone who needs it,” Wolf said. Continued from C-3 man,” Wyman said. “Once we got to the top, we had everyone lift the piano out of the truck while Bryce continued to film.” Wyman’s band — guitarist Terence Hansen, drummer Eric Munoz and bassist Rehan Jacob — joined the couple for the video shoot. “Bryce filmed us all performing up there as the sun was setting,” Needham said. “It was gorgeous.” And while the duo will be performing in concert halls far from the Wasatch this month, Needham can’t wait to play the Boneyard again. “We love playing there,” she said. “It’s a great place for us.” For more information, visit Park88’s Facebook page or their website at www.park88music. com. Continued from C-4 and she was a great addition to the performances,” he said. This season marks Demers’ third year as Park City Singers director. “I think we have a good core of people that come back each year and enjoy singing with us,” he said. “We would love them to bring someone with them who they feel might also enjoy singing with us.” Park City Singers will host a welcoming party at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, at the home of second soprano Renee Mox Hall. To RSVP and receive the address, email rmoxhall@gmail. com. For information about Park City Singers, visit Facebook.com/parkcitysingers and www.parkcitysingers.org. JOHN LACONTE Vail Daily AVON, Colo. — The recent fire at the Beaver Bench condos in Avon, Colorado, hit close to home, literally, for local musician Jake Wolf. Wolf lives a few residences away from the area that was destroyed by fire in late August, and is feeling fortunate not to have been displaced along with his many friends and neighbors whose lives have been turned upside down by the blaze that destroyed numerous condos near the lake in Avon. The incident left Wolf feeling like he needed to help, so he is doing what he does best and getting ready to rock out for the cause. Wolf brought together a who’s who of local musicians who played at the Agave venue on Thursday night in a fundraiser for those displaced by the blaze. “We’re really lucky no lives were lost and no one was injured, so if we can raise some funds to get these people back on their feet, hopefully they’ll be able to get past it and move on with their lives,” Wolf said in an interview before the concert. Rob Eaton of Dark Star Or- Park88 goes on tour Singers are back same. Psychologists don’t all agree on why the rising full moon looks so abnormally large. One possible explanation is that when seen low on the horizon, the moon’s size can be subconsciously judged against trees, mountains and other foreground objects, and it looks large by comparison. But, when seen overhead, the moon appears in a big empty sky, with nothing nearby to judge its size, and it looks tiny. This theory, however, does not explain why sailors observe the same illusion at sea, where there is nothing on the distant horizon for comparison. Here’s another looney lunar illusion. When you see that big Harvest Moon rising and looking as big as a pumpkin, turn around, bend over and look at it upside down from between your legs. Lo and behold — it magically shrinks and looks normal size again. Jimmy Westlake retired from full time teaching at Colorado Mountain College’s Steamboat campus in 2017, after nineteen years as their Professor of Physical Sciences. His “Celestial News” column appears monthly in the Steamboat Pilot & Today newspaper. Check out Jimmy’s SD_3colX4_ParkRec_final.pdf astrophotography website at http://www.jwestlake.com. C-5 PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM PAGE C-4 S A S S T R U E L N O S C A A L A M E N T O T H A T Y P O D R A S A T T H A N G E L 1 S A L S A S M I T H N O S T R I L S C O O K I E C U T T E R 8/27/18 D R E H I O T R E I M C O R N E A A M A Z E P U T T S A H M E W A H L I E L T L E K S S R E H A T E Y A K P S I E L B J O E T D O I N W N S B H U H E I N O T A M O I R S T O O I N N B U R R M B O E D I D R K U L D A U N E N D B A R O Z E L U N I D E D I V A D D R A M B S K E R A O X I U Q T B R U A E L A E C U A D O R I R O N L A D Y T W I T D O R M B S W I O D R E S T H Y P A O L G O H S M T A I N N E S T O P S L O V E R S L O A D U O N O W W H E R E W A S I O I L L A M P S E L I S E R A C E R B A N D I S E E R E R N O C A L L L I S T T A R T A T H Y G L E E F R E R E A L T O 10:14 AM TWO for ONE DINING 7815 Royal Street East Park City, Utah 84060 Reservations (435) 940-2200 www.the-chateaux.com/dining Valid until 10/28/18. Open Wednesday through Sunday, dinner and dine-in only. Valid at Cena Ristorante. Buy one entrée, get the second of equal or lesser value for free. 20% gratuity will be added to original amount. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or special event. Know Before You Go! Park City & Summit County have partnered with Blyncsy™ to bring you Traffic Trends. Traffic data is now LIVE on the Summit County & Park City Transportation websites! Your Route (Northbound) AM Travel Time Avg Winter 2017: 8 min Avg This Week: 19 min SUMMIT CO. WEBSITE: Click Government, then Transportation. PARK CITY WEBSITE: Click Departments, then Transit Bus. >> Then, click the Traffic Trends icon |