Moon question

[iamjulian]

This should probably be in the beginner section but I thought the lunar observers would be able to help. Why is it that some nights the moon is much lower in the sky than others? Last night it didn't look very high above the southern horizon. The sun I understand, in summer it is high, in winter it is low, but how does the moon work? Does its declination vary over a set period like the sun? Thank you.

[brianb]

The Moon follows pretty much the same track through the sky as the Sun ... it's high in the sky when new in summer, first quarter in spring, full in winter, last quarter in autumn.

[barkis]

I think It's to do with the earths travel along the Ecliptic, and the inclination of the moons orbit around the earth, which is 5.1 degrees.

Ron.