HoneyMoon

Honeymoon
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I made an observation of the Waning Gibbous Moon (17.8 days old) on June 11, 2009 (04:00 U.T.) above the southeastern horizon. The Moon exhibited a golden color as it is appropriately called a “Honeymoon.” The origin of the word Honeymoon is vague but it may have originated in Northern Europe when the newly married couple was supposed to drink a daily cup of Mead (a drink made from honey) for the first month of marriage in order to provide strength and virility. The astronomical explanation may refer to the low (southern) position of the Moon along the Ecliptic (greater amount of haze) giving it a “golden” appearance. Whatever the explanation it is a beautiful sight for newlyweds and all of us.

Carlos