The Moon appears to move across the sky in an eastward direction over the course of a month.

Here's why:

* Earth's Rotation: The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east, making the Sun and Moon appear to rise in the east and set in the west.

* Moon's Orbit: The Moon orbits the Earth in the same direction that the Earth rotates (counterclockwise when viewed from above the North Pole). This eastward movement is slower than the Earth's rotation, so the Moon appears to drift eastward against the background of stars over the course of a month.

This eastward motion is why the Moon appears to rise a little later each night.