<p>The moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined at about 5° to the ecliptic 
So as the Earth progresses in its own orbit around the sun, the moon's altitude also changes </p>

<p>During summers the part of the orbit on the other side of the Earth(night side) is below the ecliptic. While during winters it is the upper part which is on the night side</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Lyp9Y.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Lyp9Y.png" alt="Moon&#39;s orbit is inclined to the ecliptic"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-Moon.PNG" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Source</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-22T06:33:00.700Z
There are 4 planes involved here: the local horizon, the equatorial plane, the ecliptic, and the Moon's orbital plane. You can improve your answer by clarifying the roles of these planes on the Moon's altitude. And you should probably learn about the precession of the Moon's nodes and [lunar standstill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_standstill).
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-20T17:32:28.597Z
2019-04-20T22:13:31.780Z
2019-04-20T22:13:31.780Z
Danish 
<p>I came across a question in which moon's highest altitude had to be calculated as seen from a certain latitude, also the month and the hour and the constellation in which moon would be in had to be calculated......</p>

<p>I could not understand why or how would moons path change during the year</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-20T16:58:29.317Z
Is it clear why the *sun's* path in the sky changes during the year?
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-20T16:59:27.687Z
Yes is it because of the same reason?
Danish 
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-20T17:02:09.717Z
pretty much, there are some other motions of the moon's orbit (it does actually shift due to the pertubation) but the reason the full moon is low in summer and high in winter is exactly the same as the reason the sun in high in summer and low in winter.  Think you can self answer this question?
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-11T00:36:21.633Z
Not only the maximum elevation (declination) changes during the year, but the maximum which can be reached in the year also changes, according to a 18-year cycle, from 18° to 29° of elevation. See [lunar standstill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_standstill)
mins
<the-moon><observational-astronomy><ecliptic>
Why does moon's highest altitude change during the year
Danish 
# Why does moon's highest altitude change during the year

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-20)

I came across a question in which moon's highest altitude had to be calculated as seen from a certain latitude, also the month and the hour and the constellation in which moon would be in had to be calculated......

I could not understand why or how would moons path change during the year

**Tags:** the-moon, observational-astronomy, ecliptic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is it clear why the *sun's* path in the sky changes during the year?  
> **username_0**: Yes is it because of the same reason?  
> **username_1**: pretty much, there are some other motions of the moon's orbit (it does actually shift due to the pertubation) but the reason the full moon is low in summer and high in winter is exactly the same as the reason the sun in high in summer and low in winter.  Think you can self answer this question?  
> **username_2**: Not only the maximum elevation (declination) changes during the year, but the maximum which can be reached in the year also changes, according to a 18-year cycle, from 18° to 29° of elevation. See [lunar standstill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_standstill)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2019-04-20. Score: 6

The moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined at about 5° to the ecliptic
So as the Earth progresses in its own orbit around the sun, the moon's altitude also changes

During summers the part of the orbit on the other side of the Earth(night side) is below the ecliptic. While during winters it is the upper part which is on the night side

[![Moon's orbit is inclined to the ecliptic](https://i.sstatic.net/Lyp9Y.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Lyp9Y.png)

[Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-Moon.PNG)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: There are 4 planes involved here: the local horizon, the equatorial plane, the ecliptic, and the Moon's orbital plane. You can improve your answer by clarifying the roles of these planes on the Moon's altitude. And you should probably learn about the precession of the Moon's nodes and [lunar standstill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_standstill).  

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