Question

What is declination and how does it impact day length

Answer 1

Answer:

Definition: declination is the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator.

The declination angle, denoted by δ, varies seasonally due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis of rotation and the rotation of the Earth around the sun. If the Earth were not tilted on its axis of rotation, the declination would always be 0°. However, the Earth is tilted by 23.45° and the declination angle varies plus or minus this amount. Only at the spring and fall equinoxes is the declination angle equal to 0°. The rotation of the Earth around the sun and the change in the declination angle is shown in the animation below. It more or less affects the actual time of sun rise/set, but not the length of day