In Washington on Friday, our daytime hours were so filled with history, terrestrial events and the sun-splashed splendor of October, that we might have overlooked the nighttime rising of the moon.

 

But it was not to be ignored. It was the harvest moon. It carries a name familiar to us from song, story and perhaps nostalgia for an agrarian past. We probably know the name even without knowing it is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which was Sept. 22.

 

Purists and sticklers might note that the ever-changing moon truly achieved maximum fullness Thursday night. With the moon constantly cycling through its phases, in the manner perhaps of a moody adolescent, by Friday it was indeed on the wane. But that is a quibble.

 

As fair-minded, practical people, many of us would agree that even as late as Friday night, the moon remained relatively full.

 

More important, we could see it. On Thursday night, clouds cloaked our view and rain fell as the moon climbed. By contrast, Friday night seemed poised to present clearer skies. And it did.

 

Such skies suggested sightings that might prompt us to burst out in “So,Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon,” with any vocal lapses easily overwhelmed by the extent of our enthusiasm.

 

However, Friday by day also offered grounds for enthusiasm about our surroundings.

The day’s high of 69 degrees was autumnal and cool, seven degrees cooler than October’s first day. It was also cooler than most of September. Yet the afternoon seemed aglow with sunshine enough to keep all but the most committed Cassandras from feeling any incipient chill.