To be sure the new crescent moon first becomes visible above the western horizon shortly after sunset though it rises in the east the morning of the same day shortly after sunrise. As is also true of the sun the exact point on the horizon where the moon rises or sets varies from day to day and from season to season. In one month the moon passes over very nearly the same path through the heavens that the sun does in one year, for the moon's path is inclined only five degrees to the ecliptic or apparent path of the sun through the heavens. It can never pass more than 28-1/2° (23-1/2° + 5°) south of the celestial equator, nor more than 28-1/2° north of it. It has a slightly greater range in altitude than the sun, therefore. North of 28-1/2° north latitude it always crosses the meridian south of the zenith and below 28-1/2° south latitude it crosses the meridian north of the zenith. In tropical regions the moon sometimes passes north of the zenith, sometimes south, or again directly through the zenith.