The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival Sep 13, 2019

The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival

Shenzhen, China—seen in our photo today—is a drone manufacturing hub. So, when this city celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival in 2018, a synchronized fleet of drones took to the skies over Shenzhen Talent Park and lit up in a crescent-moon shape to celebrate the lunar holiday. At other times in the performance, the drones created the shape of Chinese characters reading "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!" So, what is the Mid-Autumn Festival? It’s a harvest celebration that’s been observed by Chinese and other Asian peoples for thousands of years. The date of the celebration changes each year on our Gregorian calendar, falling on the first full moon of the harvest season, which arrives today. One major feature of the lunar holiday? A sweet pastry called "mooncake." Let it be known that we fully embrace any holiday that includes cake.

© Liang Weiming/VCG via Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Sep 13, 2018They’re grrrape!
Sep 13, 2020Super sandy Sweet 16
Sep 13, 2021Sand, sun, and sk8ers
Sep 13, 2022Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Sep 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
Sep 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore in California

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 28, 2024Last day of National Park Week
May 29, 2022Hyalite Creek at Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Aug 14, 2021When Death Valley blew its top
Nov 10, 2023Badlands National Parks 45th anniversary
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California
Jun 7, 2025National Trails Day
Jun 9, 2021Ring of fire
Apr 26, 2026Pink apple blossoms, Avila Beach, California
Jul 4, 2026The United States 250th anniversary
Apr 5, 2026Easter Sunday
Feb 22, 2019A rest stop for the birds
Mar 25, 2026Juvenile manatees in a freshwater spring, Crystal River, Florida
Jun 9, 2022Sweetheart Abbey, Scotland
May 14, 2020Green fields of grain
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore in California
Nov 25, 2021Happy Thanksgiving
Jul 7, 2024Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
Sep 3, 2021Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
May 26, 2022Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
Feb 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
Nov 10, 2019Sunny day, sweepin the clouds away
Apr 24, 2021A garden of prickly delights
Jul 15, 2025Perseid meteor shower over Nevada
Oct 15, 2024Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya
Apr 9, 2022Light show at the skatepark
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Feb 14, 2025Happy Valentines Day!
Mar 28, 2023The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy
Jan 27, 2018Bioluminescence at Trwyn Du Lighthouse in Wales
Aug 10, 2018Assembling the Smithsonian