The declination of a celestial object is the exact equivalent of latitude.
At 45 degrees north latitude, the north celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the northern horizon. At 45 degrees south latitude, the south celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the southern horizon.
The altitude at which the celestial equator intersects your local meridian is the complementof your latitude, i.e. the difference between your latitude and 90 degrees.On the equator: Your latitude is zero. (90 - 0) = 90. Celestial equator passes overhead.At the pole: Your latitude is 90. (90 - 90) = 0. Celestial equator coincides with the horizon.In New Orleans, Louisiana, or Durban, South Africa: Your latitude is 30. (90 - 30) = 60.Celestial equator intersects local meridian at 60 degrees above the horizon.
The angle between the celestial equator and your personal zenith is equal to the latitude of your location. (Whether it's north or south latitude doesn't matter, and neither does your longitude or the time of day or night where you are.)
Latitude is not based on any celestial observation, but rather the geographical location - how far north or south the place is - with respect to the equatorial circle. You could say it is based on terrestrial observation, if you like.
If your latitude is 39 degrees north, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees above your northern horizon.If your latitude is 39 degrees south, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees below your northern horizon.
Celestial navigation.
The celestial coordinate system is exactly analogous to the terrestrial positioning system based on latitude and longitude. Terrestrial latitude ---> celestial 'declination'. Terrestrial longitude ---> celestial 'right ascension', where one 'hour' = 15 degrees.
When astronomers are working with geographic maps, they call latitude "latitude"and longitude "longitude".When they're working with celestial maps, they refer to the analogous celestial coordinatesas "Declination" and "Right Ascension".
We more or less do, we just call them declination and right ascension instead. The two concepts are mathematically equivalent.
At 45 degrees north latitude, the north celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the northern horizon. At 45 degrees south latitude, the south celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the southern horizon.
The altitude at which the celestial equator intersects your local meridian is the complementof your latitude, i.e. the difference between your latitude and 90 degrees.On the equator: Your latitude is zero. (90 - 0) = 90. Celestial equator passes overhead.At the pole: Your latitude is 90. (90 - 90) = 0. Celestial equator coincides with the horizon.In New Orleans, Louisiana, or Durban, South Africa: Your latitude is 30. (90 - 30) = 60.Celestial equator intersects local meridian at 60 degrees above the horizon.
The angle between the celestial equator and your personal zenith is equal to the latitude of your location. (Whether it's north or south latitude doesn't matter, and neither does your longitude or the time of day or night where you are.)
Any sky object within (your latitude) degrees of the north celestial pole.
Latitude is not based on any celestial observation, but rather the geographical location - how far north or south the place is - with respect to the equatorial circle. You could say it is based on terrestrial observation, if you like.
Celestial coordinates. -- The star's latitude on the celestial sphere is the same as the Earth latitude that it seems to follow on its way aroujnd the sky. On the celestial sphere, the latitude is called "declination", and is expressed in degrees. -- The star's longitude on the celestial sphere is its angle, measured westward, from the point in the sky called the Vernal Equinox ... the point where the sun appears to cross the celestial equator in March. On the celestial sphere, the star's longitude is called "Right Ascension", and it's expressed in hours. That certainly seems confusing, but an "hour of Right Ascension" just means 15 degrees of celestial longitude. So, as the sky turns, the point directly over your head moves through the stars by 1 hour of Right Ascension every hour.
Indicating the position of a celestial object is similar to latitude latitude and longitude. But it is called right ascension and declination.
If your latitude is 39 degrees north, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees above your northern horizon.If your latitude is 39 degrees south, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees below your northern horizon.