Chasing Comets, Finding the Harvest Moon in Okotoks

In the crisp fall of 2024, just outside Okotoks, Alberta, a quiet evening turned into a celestial adventure. Armed with a camera and a sense of wonder, we set out to catch a glimpse of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which astronomers promised would grace the northern skies around mid-September. The comet, a rare visitor last seen 80,000 years ago, had been making headlines, and we were eager to witness its faint, ethereal glow. But as the stars emerged and we scanned the heavens, the comet remained elusive, hidden by the bright moonlight or perhaps our untrained eyes.

What we found instead was a sight just as magical: the Harvest Moon of 2024, rising full and radiant on September 17. This moon, known for its warm, golden hue, hung low over a rustic red barn, casting a soft glow across the fields near Okotoks. The Harvest Moon, traditionally the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, has long guided farmers through late harvests with its bright light. In this moment, it felt like a gift—a reminder to pause and appreciate the beauty right in front of us. The barn, a steadfast fixture in the rolling Alberta plains, stood silhouetted against the moon’s glow, while the sky shifted from deep blue to a soft lavender, painting a scene of timeless serenity.

Okotoks, with its wide-open spaces and proximity to the Sheep River, was the perfect spot for this lunar spectacle. Though we didn’t spot the comet, the Harvest Moon gave us a story to tell—one of quiet wonder, shared with the whispering fields and the distant Rockies. Sometimes, the universe has its own plans, and that night, it led us to this golden moment instead.