DECLINATION (from

See also:

• LAT

Lat. declinare, to decline)  , in magnetism the angle between true north and magnetic north, i.e. the variation between the true meridian and the magnetic meridian . In 1596 at London the angle of declination was 11° E. of N., in 1652 magnetic north was true north, in 1815 the magnetic needle pointed 241° W. of N., in 1891 18° W., in 1896 17° 56' W. and in 1906 17° 45' . The angle is gradually diminishing and the declination will in time again be o°, when it will slowly increase in an easterly direction, the north magnetic pole oscillating slowly around the North Pole . Regular daily changes of declination also occur . Magnetic storms cause irregular variations sometimes of one or two degrees . (See MAGNETISM, TERRESTRIAL.) In astronomy the declination is the angular distance, as seen from the earth, of a heavenly body from the celestial equator, thus corresponding with terrestrial latitude .