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declination Definition

dec·li·na·tion (dek′lə nā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. a bending or sloping downward; deviation from the horizontal or vertical
  2. an oblique variation from some definite direction
  3. the angle formed by a magnetic needle with the line pointing to the geographical North Pole
  4. a polite declining or refusal
  5. Archaic decline; deterioration; decay
  6. Astron. the angular distance of a celestial body north or south from the celestial equator: it is used with right ascension to find an exact position in the sky: abbrev. Dec, dec

Etymology: ME declinacioun < L declinatio: see declension

declination Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • give: This agrees with the declination given by the Ordnance Survey on their 1:50,000 Loch Assynt sheet.
  • have: Up to this time, Venus has had a superior declination to the Sun.

Adjective modifier

  • magnetic: The number 13.50 happens to be the magnetic declination for this area.
  • maximum: We are currently enjoying this planet close to its maximum northern declination at a time when the ring system is wide open.
  • minimum: Also every month, the Moon will reach its minimum declination at 18º north or south.
  • high: Indeed this is also true of the signs of the zodiac which have higher declination.

Modifies a noun

  • diagram: A declination diagram is a part of the information in the lower margin on most larger maps.
  • degree: Some even have extra information such as magnetic variation or declination degrees marked on the dial.
  • line: These movements of the sun cause the moving shadow of the nodus to follow the declination lines on the dial plate.

Noun used with modifier

  • degree: All of the objects in the Messier Catalog are north of -35 degrees declination.
  • source: This error caused an offset in the source declination up to 1 arcmin.

Possessives

  • sun: Next we must know the sun's declination at the time of our observation.

Preposition: in

  • equinox: Dec The declination in the default equinox ( given to the nearest arcsecond in the original catalog ).
  • degree: Dec The centroid Declination in degrees, equinox 1950.

Preposition: of

  • sun: The table below lists the declination of the sun for the first day of each month.
  • object: Dec The declination of the object in the selected equinox.
  • star: Dec The declination of the star in the selected equinox, i.e. , the optical position.
  • source: Dec The declination of the radio source in the selected equinox.
  • target: Dec The declination of the target in the default equinox.
  • galaxy: Dec The Declination of the galaxy, in the selected equinox.