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Declination (dec) is an astronomical term associated with the equatorial coordinate system. Dec is comparable to latitude, projected unto the celestial sphere, and is measured in degrees north of the celestial equator. Therefore, points north of the celestial equator have positive declination, while those to the south have negative declination.
See also: right ascension
Declination is occasionally and erroneously used to refer to the linguistic term declension.
Clarification
Note that the sign must be included even if positive.
Declination is used in some contexts that rule out astronomical declination, to mean the same as magnetic declination.