Why is the moon so low in the sky? ?

Question

I live in Northeast USA (about 37 degrees) and the full moon is always low in the sky and towards the south. It is never in the north. Why is that?

Answer 1

the earth is tilted ~23 degrees.

the moon orbits around the ecliptic (give or take a degree or two), so the closest to directly overhead it can ever be at your latitude would be about 15 degrees to the south.

since the tilt away from the ecliptic is most extreme at midnight during the Summer months, the Summer full moon will appear lower in the sky than any other time of year.

Answer 2

The full moon is in the opposite part of the sky to the sun. Therefore, in summer, it occupies the part of the sky which is occupied by the sun in winter, i.e. low down in the south. The moon's orbit is such that it is only ever overhead between about latitudes 29 degrees north and 29 degrees south, so from 37 degrees north, it is always going to cross your local meridian to the south.

If you look at the full moon in the winter, you will find it high in the sky, 75 to 80 degrees above your horizon because it's now occupying the position which the sun would have occupied in summer.

Answer 3

you're in a too upper latitude

the moon moves around earth 5 degrees from the ecliptic, and the earth rotates at 24 degrees from the ecliptic

if you check this graph

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Axial...

and put the moon in an orbit between the ecliptic an the celestial ecuator, at only 5º, and locate yourself very up in the earth, you'll understand it, the moon will always be very low for the position you are at

Answer 4

In the winter its close to straight overhead. Why is that?

It appears to change thru a range of degrees just like the sun but at opposite times of the year. Its for the same reasons as the seasons.  

Answer 5

The moon orbits around the earth's equator, for the most part.  Since you are so far north, you need to look mostly up and slightly south in order to see it.