When viewed from the North Pole, Earth spins counterclockwise, which is toward the east. This means that the stars appear to move in the opposite direction, which is toward the west. This is just like when you’re sitting in a train that begins moving eastward. The only way you know that you’re moving eastward is because things outside your window give the appearance of moving westward.

Just as Earth spins counterclockwise, the Moon revolves around us counterclockwise, though not as fast as we spin. Look where the Moon is located one night at, say, 11:00. Look for the Moon the next night at the same time, and you’ll see that it has moved eastward (a counterclockwise direction) from where it was on the previous night.