Each year the Full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox enjoys the distinction of being the Harvest Moon, and it happens this week on Wednesday, September 18th at 10:36 A.M. The Moon will rival The Sun for a few dramatic moments at the horizon both Monday and Tuesday evenings, making it ready to be the dominant light in our sky after Equinox happens next week. And with it rises the question: what is my harvest this year?
In northern Michigan a yield of stars is coming in with the harvest this season out on Beaver Island, where, after several years of dedicated effort, a terrific task force of islanders was able to achieve the rare International Dark Sky Sanctuary status for the State Wildlife Research Area, nearly 10,000 acres of island land that rests beautifully beneath a blanket of exceptionally starry skies.
The Dark Sky Association International has several different categories for designating protected night skies, and while the state of Michigan has three international dark sky parks, Beaver Island is the only international dark sky sanctuary.
So what’s the difference?
Dark sky sanctuary status is granted to remote locations where there is little threat to the quality of the night sky, as out on Beaver Island, situated as it is out in the fifth largest body of freshwater in the world.
Natural darkness is rapidly disappearing from our world, and with it goes nocturnal habitat, earth resources, and healthy human circadian rhythms. Protecting natural darkness is not just about making it possible to see the stars ~ that’s the beautiful bonus ~ it’s about sustaining The Earth in its environment, as a being that meditates on the occurrences of the stars.
