Dictionary term
Declination Table
Direct answer
Declination Table is a table listing declination, the angular coordinate north or south of the celestial equator, for bodies or times.
Declination Table is a celestial latitude table used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
Declination Table is a celestial latitude table used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
An engraved functional orientation; the page explains the real instrument, method, or publication.Quick reference
- Use when
- Use Declination Table by noting the sign, epoch, date, and whether the value is apparent, mean, geocentric, or topocentric.
- Do not use it for
- A missing minus sign changes north to south and can invalidate an entire calculation.
- Reference category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Related terms
- Transit Table, Precession Table, Right Ascension Table, Cross Staff
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The story behind Declination Table
Declination columns became standard features of star catalogues, ephemerides, and navigation almanacs.
Declination Table in spiritual tradition
Declination Table rewards careful observation, explicit assumptions, and humility about the limits of every model or measurement.
Declination Table: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual history-of-science, instrument, timekeeping, or navigation reference. It may support wonder and disciplined attention without becoming a claim of fate, worship, or private revelation.
Declination Table in numerology
Declination Table is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Declination Table matters
Declination Table matters because declination is required for sky pointing, meridian-altitude latitude work, and determining which latitudes can see an object.
Declination Table at work: an example
A Sun sight reduction uses the Sun's tabulated declination for the observation time.
Where interpretation stops
Declination Table is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical and Navigational Almanacs - Official descriptions of the Astronomical Almanac, Nautical Almanac, and their tabular data.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Applications Data Services - Authoritative services for positions, rise and set data, phases, seasons, eclipses, and astronomical dates.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Also appears in
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Explore Declination Table
Declination Table in a book is one thing; Declination Table in your own birth chart is your life. The Oracle casts your real chart and tells you what it means for your love, your work, and your year ahead, in conversation, free.
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More in Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Hadley Quadrant
- Lunar Distance Table
- Nocturnal Instrument
- Plumb Line
- Sextant
- Volvelle
- Astrolabe
- Celestial Navigation
Common questions
What is Declination Table?
Declination Table is a table listing declination, the angular coordinate north or south of the celestial equator, for bodies or times.
How is Declination Table used in an almanac?
Use Declination Table by noting the sign, epoch, date, and whether the value is apparent, mean, geocentric, or topocentric.
What should I avoid when interpreting Declination Table?
A missing minus sign changes north to south and can invalidate an entire calculation.
