As we were driving west toward Tulsa, Oklahoma, the setting sun was a blazing ball on the horizon. I took this shot looking up the highway - then noticed the rising moon in the rearview mirror! This is called a "Harvest Moon" and only occurs about every 20 years when the full moon falls on the autumnal equinox.

From Wikipedia:

"In 2010, in the United States, the Harvest Moon happens in the early morning hours of Sept 23, only 5 1/2 hours after the autumnal equinox.

Often, the Harvest Moon seems to be bigger or brighter or more colorful than other full moons. The warm color of the moon shortly after it rises is caused by light from the moon passing through a greater amount of atmospheric particles than when the moon is overhead. The atmosphere scatters the bluish component of moonlight, but allows the reddish component of the light to travel a straighter path to one's eyes. Hence, all celestial bodies look reddish when they are low in the sky.

The Harvest Moon is also known as the Wine Moon, the Singing Moon and the Elk Call Moon."

superbe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! photodeclair · 2010-09-22: 21:54

STUNNING!!! I'm really loving the first one...BEAUTIFUL :)) lynnsgallery2 · 2010-09-22: 21:57

Beautiful!!!!! SunFlower1990 · 2010-09-22: 22:09

Great set- That's such a blessing to see! netterbutter · 2010-09-22: 22:33

Spectacular colors in number one. Only the Master Painter could create such beauty. SunflowerGirl · 2010-09-22: 23:12

Both of them are way kool!! SheriJ · 2010-09-23: 00:49

very nice!!! giancaf · 2010-09-23: 01:45

wow! super miltonjacob · 2010-09-23: 03:28

I love this post and all your information that comes with it , very interesting I had never heard of a Harvest Moon before. I know the farmers here in Italy and I suppose all over the world do look to the sky and moon for planting their crops and I think harvesting them too. That's why I suppose the moons and it's crescents are depicted on calendars too. MoMac · 2010-09-23: 04:01

Both photos are really gorgeous. Thanks for capturing the harvest moon; of all the nights to be cloudy, we had a very cloudy one last night, so I could not see it. Ver beautiful captures, 1 is my favorite! Well done, Brenda :) ????? · 2010-09-23: 06:34

Wow the ball of fire is stunning! Beautiful harvest moon! ArtBee · 2010-09-23: 08:06

Wowwee! I love the west view. Spectacular! RayNvb · 2010-09-23: 09:50

awesome!!~ love the big ball of fire and also the info, very cool urmysunshine · 2010-09-23: 10:07

Great idea and suberb shots. Thanks for sharing! davidcardona · 2010-09-23: 10:20

Wow. Stunning red!!! Great capture, Brenda! huiching · 2010-09-23: 11:14

My husband mentioned something about a harvest moon last night but I didn't realize it was such a rare occurrence...I missed out (well, except for your photo!). Good info and I love the colors in the first picture! threepeas · 2010-09-23: 13:15

stunning shots and view! :) onlyricky · 2010-09-23: 14:57

love both of these!! jennye · 2010-09-23: 15:06

Oh, I missed it! Another 20 years, you say? I hope I will still be holding a camera in my hand all the time, andI will be on the lookout for it...probably my last chance then... atszabo · 2010-09-23: 16:18

wow!!how intense the colours are in 1..thanks for the info too! elizzi · 2010-09-23: 19:26

great capture. I love when I take a photo of something and then happen to turn around and find a lovely surprise photo opportunity. the first shot could be a painting with the blur above and below the horizon. the colors are stunning beth0110 · 2010-09-23: 22:42

I heard the Harvest moon was going to be wonderful this year, but oh my! your capture is incredible...we got rain all night so I didnt get to see one.... ????? · 2010-09-23: 23:52

gorgeous set, Brenda !! great color in # 1 pic ! Davorka · 2010-09-24: 04:07

Very interesting text and amazing shot! loulou169 · 2010-09-24: 08:24

Absolutely love the first picture on here. TheMausHole · 2010-09-24: 12:18

Very beautiful shots! wildduck · 2010-09-24: 12:59

Wonderful pictures, especially #1. Gives one the impression of an inferno JustGarden · 2010-09-24: 22:07

It was a spectacular moon! and dramatic sunset too. paulamarquis · 2010-09-26: 00:00

I LOVE picture number one!! Clarinetchick · 2010-09-29: 15:38