<p>I can approximate the scenario in question at 2020-03-15 04:23 UT.
<br/>At location 1, the Moon is at alt=34.6&deg;, az=90.0&deg;.
<br/>At location 2, the Moon is at alt=41.2&deg;, az=85.1&deg;.</p>

<p>We see a shift in azimuth because the Earth's surface is not cylindrical.
You can get from location 1 to 2 by moving 721 km on a constant heading of 90&deg;.
However, the 36&deg;S parallel curves almost 5&deg; to the right in that distance.</p>

<p>Moving the same distance constantly toward the moon, along a great circle, would put you about 29 km north of location 2 with final heading 85.3&deg;.
Continuing around the world on the same great circle, you'd cross the equator at 39.6&deg;E, heading 54.1&deg;.</p>

<p>A view of the zenith showing the equatorial grid (blue) may help to illustrate the issue.
The left half of the prime vertical (green) is due east.
The longitude difference between locations 1 and 2 is equivalent to 0.53 hour of right ascension.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MrNi1.png" alt="Stellarium rendering of zenith at 36S with equatorial grid"></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T21:00:44.220Z
2020-02-27T21:00:44.220Z
Mike G
<p>I've setup this scenario on Stellarium where the moon is aligned with East direction. I wanted to see the change of altitude of the moon if I move straight into its direction (time of observation is always the same) but instead it keeps changing its direction to the left. I expected to keep on the same azimuth and only change altitude but no, and I don't understand the geometric reason of it, for example If I walk in a straight line towards a building it won't move right or left. On the equator works as I expected.<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FGXkN.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FGXkN.png" alt="Stellarium scenario of the moon"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T04:16:34.370Z
This will turn out to be interesting! What exactly does "Moon is aligned with the East direction" mean? Are you observing from some place on Earth and it's on the horizon? "East" is not defined in space.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T08:49:17.230Z
You should not see any change if you move straight to the south along a meridian when the moon is right over south.
Alchimista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T13:40:40.977Z
At most latitudes, the Moon will not be directly east, but rather slightly south or north, depending on the hemisphere you are in. So if you move east (ie along a parallel), you won't end up seeing the Moon at the zenith
usernumber
<observational-astronomy><the-moon>
Why does moon moves to side if I change my position directly into it?
Lamiro
# Why does moon moves to side if I change my position directly into it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-27)

I've setup this scenario on Stellarium where the moon is aligned with East direction. I wanted to see the change of altitude of the moon if I move straight into its direction (time of observation is always the same) but instead it keeps changing its direction to the left. I expected to keep on the same azimuth and only change altitude but no, and I don't understand the geometric reason of it, for example If I walk in a straight line towards a building it won't move right or left. On the equator works as I expected.[![Stellarium scenario of the moon](https://i.sstatic.net/FGXkN.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/FGXkN.png)

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

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This will turn out to be interesting! What exactly does "Moon is aligned with the East direction" mean? Are you observing from some place on Earth and it's on the horizon? "East" is not defined in space.  
> **username_2**: You should not see any change if you move straight to the south along a meridian when the moon is right over south.  
> **username_3**: At most latitudes, the Moon will not be directly east, but rather slightly south or north, depending on the hemisphere you are in. So if you move east (ie along a parallel), you won't end up seeing the Moon at the zenith  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-02-27. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I can approximate the scenario in question at 2020-03-15 04:23 UT.
  
At location 1, the Moon is at alt=34.6°, az=90.0°.
  
At location 2, the Moon is at alt=41.2°, az=85.1°.

We see a shift in azimuth because the Earth's surface is not cylindrical.
You can get from location 1 to 2 by moving 721 km on a constant heading of 90°.
However, the 36°S parallel curves almost 5° to the right in that distance.

Moving the same distance constantly toward the moon, along a great circle, would put you about 29 km north of location 2 with final heading 85.3°.
Continuing around the world on the same great circle, you'd cross the equator at 39.6°E, heading 54.1°.

A view of the zenith showing the equatorial grid (blue) may help to illustrate the issue.
The left half of the prime vertical (green) is due east.
The longitude difference between locations 1 and 2 is equivalent to 0.53 hour of right ascension.

![Stellarium rendering of zenith at 36S with equatorial grid](https://i.sstatic.net/MrNi1.png)


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