The Reflected Full Moon Walk at Sacred Coldwater Springs.
Thursday May 7, 2020.
Gather at the park entrance, 7pm.
Park at pay meters on the access road via credit card/quarters.
The gray color of the moon is caused by the light of the sun reflected off the earth’s oceans. That factoid is reported by Ben Lewis in his book The Last Leonardo noting that Leonardo was the first astronomer to observe the gray earth/ocean sun’s reflection in the moon.
The moon is also reflected in Coldwater reservoir, gently moving as if breathing. For years I’ve thought of the full moon as the model for Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, and that he could only paint it one night a month. You can see that if you tilt your head slightly.
The Chinese see a rabbit in the moon where we are supposed to see “the man in†there. When rain approaches there is a rainbow around the moon caused by a thin, very high cloud layer. It’s called a lunar halo. (see photo at https://www.bing.com/search?q=rainbow+around+full+moon&form=EDGSPH&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&msnews=1&plvar=0&refig=47318038d88a4b31accbd825c13bf426&PC=DCTE&sp=2&qs=AS&pq=rainbow+aroun&sk=PRES1AS1&sc=8-13&cvid=47318038d88a4b31accbd825c13bf426&cc=US&setlang=en-US) In daytime those rain forecasting clouds are called “mare’s tails,†wispy cloud lines running across the sky warning sailors to trim their sails for the coming storm.
The month of April includes the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, and Arbor Day two days later.
S.J.
Friends of Coldwater seek to honor this landscape ancestor. Full moon walks have been celebrated at Coldwater Springs monthly since 2000. We return to remember the spirits that feed this Spring. Please bring a rattle.
Sunset 8:27 pm  (38 minutes later than the previous full moon)
Moonrise 8:59 pm  (1 hour, 31 minutes later than last month’s full moon)
Exact minute of full moon 5:45 am, another Super Moon
The year in daylight on full moon days:
May 18, 2019  14 hours, 57 minutes daylight, 1 hour, 16 minute daylight gain
June 17th 15 hours, 35 minutes daylight, 38 minute daylight gain – No wonder the kids won’t go to bed!
July 16th  15 hours, 13 minutes daylight, 22 minute daylight loss
August 15th 14 hours, 13 minutes, 1 hour daylight loss
September 13th 12 hours, 33 minutes, 1 hour, 50 minute daylight loss
NOTE: Wednesday, 9/25 we experience 12 hours of daylight & nighttime here.
October 13th 11 hours, 6 minutes, 1 hour, 27 minute daylight loss
November 12th  9 hours, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 26 minute daylight loss
December 11th  8 hours, 52 minutes, 28 minute daylight loss
January 10, 2020Â Â 9 hours, 1 minute, 9 minute daylight gain
February 9th 10 hours, 9 minute daylight gain
March 9th  11 hours, 33 minute, 1 hour, 24 minute daylight gain
April 7th  13 hours, 7 minute, 53 minute daylight gain
May 7th  14 hours, 31 minute daylight gain
DIRECTIONS: Coldwater Springs is between Minnehaha Park & Fort Snelling, in Minneapolis, just North of the Hwy 55/62 interchange. From Hwy 55/Hiawatha, turn East (toward the Mississippi) at 54th Street, take an immediate right, & drive all the way down on the frontage road where you can park at the pay meters.
Gather at the park entrance.
All welcome. Dress for the weather, especially sturdy footwear. We celebrate the full moon in all-weather however the length of the walk depends on conditions. If it’s really cold or wet it’s a quick 10-minutes to the spring outflow gurgling from under the limestone bedrock Spring House built in the 1880s to supply potable water to Fort Snelling.
This gathering is free and open to the public.
#FullMoonWalk #FullMoon #ColdwaterSprings #MinneapolisNature