Why does the moon sometimes appear just above the horizon (from the UK) and sometimes almost overhead?

Question

Also when overhead, it seems to stay there for an unreasonable length of time.
I know that the earth is inclined by 23.4 deg and the moon's orbit is inclined at 5.1 deg so at most the difference in angular height above the horizon is 2 x (23.4 + 5.1) = 56.2 deg.
Why does it appear to vary by more like 70 deg?

Answer 1

The appearance of the Moon is also dependent on the fact the the Earth is rotating on its axis. Objects appear at the horizon, drift overhead and slip below the horizon again. that is the main reason the Moon looks as it does.

;-D The Moon is romantic! Let's not forget that!

Answer 2

What about the sun? Have you ever noticed that in the summer time, the sun rises NORTH of East? How can that be, when the UK is so far North of the equator?

The answer is quite simple if you consider that because of the tilt in the Earth's axis, due East in summer time, at sunrise is pointing "below" the sun, whereas in winter time, it is pointing "above" the sun. So the position of the sun at sunrise (and sunset) will oscillate about due East (and due West).

The same is true for the moon.