Ascension
in astronomy, right asbody from the first point of Aries (the ram), measured upon the equator. The arc of the equinoctial included between a certain point in that circle, called the vernal equinox, and the point in the same circle to which it is referred by the circle of declination passing through it. Or the angle included between two hour-circles, one of which, called the equinoctial colure, passes through the vernal equinox, and the other through the body. It is opposed to oblique ascension. The terms, right ascension and declination, are now generally used to point out the position in the heavens of any celestial object, in preference to the old method of indicating certain prominent stars by proper names or by Greek letters. By means of the transit instrument, or by an equatorially mounted telescope, a star or planet may be cension and declination are known. readily found, when once its right as- Oblique ascension is the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and the point of the equator which rises with a star or other heavenly body, reckoned according to the order of the signs.