Moon waxing, and "going north"

Event Date: August 28th
Time: 11:10(.53) PM


Brief

   Several times when showing the Moon and its orbit, I have shown where the nodes are, and/or when it is ascending or descending towards a node.  This evening shortly before midnight, the Moon transits in northern Capricornus, as a big, waxing gibbous; it is just a couple days from becoming full and a bright target tonight until setting shortly before the break of dawn. 
   Here is our satellite shown with the celestial guidelines, altitude/azimuth grid, and its orbit.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

The ecliptic latitude is already +4º, meaning that the Moon is very close to the legs of Aquarius, where it will cross over tomorrow.  Aquarius is the only zodiacal constellation to clearly overlap another in celestial longitude, being Capricornus.  Not only is the Moon ascending in orbit, but it is also increasing quickly in declination over the next few days.  It is because of this, that we will see the Moon transiting higher each evening between now and when it reaches western Taurus.  It also means that for the minutes shortly after transit, the Moon will very slowly lose altitude since as it sets.  However, since it also gaining that declination, that slightly offsets the altitude loss.
   If viewing the Moon through a telescope during the next 3-4 hours as a true night-owl, watch to see if you can see it wax more, as the terminator also cuts across less of the Moon between now and full.  During the last hours of waxing, the change is very small and hardly noticeable even in a telescope.