Question

What is the maximum altitude above the horizon at which it is possible to find the moon when you are observing from a position at 42 degrees northern latitude?

Answer 1

If the moon followed the ecliptic, it would rise 23 degrees above the celestial meridian (when south), reaching an altitude of 90 -42 +23 = 71 degrees above the horizon. (Same as the sun at summer solstice). However, the moon's orbit is inclined to the eclipic by 5 degrees, so in the "best" case, the moon can rise an extra 5 degrees to 76 degrees above the horizon, at latitude 42 degrees