In celestial coordinates, the angular distance north or south of the celestial equator is called the ______.

• A. latitude
• B. longitude
• C. declination
• D. altitude

Answer: (C)

Declination is the angular distance north or south of the celestial equator in the celestial coordinate system. It mirrors latitude on the sky, measured in degrees with 0° at the celestial equator, +90° at the north celestial pole, and -90° at the south celestial pole. The celestial equator is the projection of Earth’s equator onto the celestial sphere. Altitude is the height above the horizon (observer-dependent), and longitude (in celestial terms) corresponds to right ascension along the equatorial plane, not north–south position. So the term for this north-south distance is declination.