which way is the moon

The direction of the Moon depends on its position in the sky at a given time and location. Generally, the Moon moves across the sky roughly along an east- to-west path, similar to the sun. It rises approximately in the east and sets approximately in the west, but the exact direction varies by location and time. One traditional way to find direction using the Moon is the "crescent method." If the Moon is a crescent, you can imagine a line connecting the two horns of the crescent and extend this line down to the horizon. In the northern hemisphere, this line roughly indicates the direction of south because the bright side of the Moon points approximately toward the sun, which rises in the east or sets in the west. This line perpendicular to the east- west sun-Moon line gives a rough north-south direction. The Moon is highest in the sky when it is due south from the observer in the northern hemisphere. The moon's position also changes with its phases and the time of night; for example, a full moon is near due south at midnight. Right now, on September 14, 2025, the Moon is positioned significantly above the horizon in the western to northwestern part of the sky from some typical locations (such as near latitude 39.6°N, longitude 104.9°W) and sets in the west-northwest later in the day. In summary, the Moon's general direction in the sky changes throughout the night and depends on the observer's location but usually moves east to west, and the crescent Moon can help roughly find north or south directions.