Astrolabe Glossary and Notes

Declination

The vertical angular distance between a celestial body and the celestial equator. Unlike altitude, which is commonly reported as a positive number, i.e., the distance above the horizon, declination can be either a positive or a negative value. Declination is often used with mediation to locate the position of a star or planet.
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science