What is the declination value for the vernal and autumnal equinox?

Master the Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling (NSS) – Officer of the Deck (OOD) Phase 2 Exam with engaging flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare comprehensively for your test!

Multiple Choice

What is the declination value for the vernal and autumnal equinox?

Explanation:
Declination is the angular distance of a body north or south of the celestial equator. At the vernal and autumnal equinoxes the Sun lies exactly on the celestial equator, so its declination is 0 degrees, written as 00º00'. The Sun’s maximum tilt toward or away from Earth occurs at ±23.5° (solstices), and 90° would place a body at the pole—not at an equinox. So the declination for the equinoxes is 00º00'.

Declination is the angular distance of a body north or south of the celestial equator. At the vernal and autumnal equinoxes the Sun lies exactly on the celestial equator, so its declination is 0 degrees, written as 00º00'. The Sun’s maximum tilt toward or away from Earth occurs at ±23.5° (solstices), and 90° would place a body at the pole—not at an equinox. So the declination for the equinoxes is 00º00'.

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