I took the picture above when Jupiter, the brightest one in the photo, was approaching to MC. Many astrologers believe MC is the highest place in the ecliptic. Yes, it is. But, not always. Often, the planet appears higher than MC. And it isn’t easy to notice on the horoscope charts because the chart draws 2-dimensional coordinates of the planets. The following are some examples of the images and footage.
[Fig.1] Mars will culminate on the meridian in two hours; however, visually, he is the highest planet on the ecliptic.
[Fig.2] Saturn is culminating on the meridian, and visually he is the highest planet on the ecliptic.
This footage shows how the ecliptic moves for 24 hours (observed from Yokohama, Japan). You’ll see why the planets take a higher position than MC. It occurs because the ecliptic inclines about 23.4 degrees against the celestial equator. It is like two hula hoops with different angles rotate together. And also, you’ll see MC is not the fixed point. MC moves on the meridian as the intersection of the ecliptic and the meridian. [see this article for the details]
Some books tell us that MC is the highest place in the sky, and MC is the point where people aim and the carrier in life because MC is a celestial coordinate that denotes the culminating time in the sky. Hence being culminated or being on the meridian is the proper expression rather than “the highest place.”
When you see Mars tonight at 0:00 AM, September 11, 2020, you’ll find him taking the sky’s highest place. And he will culminate on the meridian around 2:00 AM, JST(GMT-9).