ASCENSIONAL Difference

, is the difference between the right and oblique ascension of the same point on the surface of the sphere. Or it is the time the sun rises or sets before or after 6 o'clock.

To find the Ascensional Difference, having given the sun's declination and the latitude of the place, say, As radius is to the tangent of the latitude, so is the tangent of the sun's declination to the sine of the Ascensional Difference sought. The sun's Ascensional Difference converted into time, shews how much he rises before, or sets after, 6 o'clock. When the sun has north declination, the right ascension is greater than the oblique; but the contrary, when the sun has south declination; and the difference, in either case, is the Ascensional Difference.