To determine which statement is correct about Canopus, we need to understand the meaning of declination in celestial coordinates.
Declination is analogous to latitude on Earth but measured in the sky. It indicates how far north or south an object is from the celestial equator. Declination values range from +90° at the north celestial pole to -90° at the south celestial pole. A positive declination means the object is north of the celestial equator, while a negative declination indicates that the object is south of the celestial equator.
Given that Canopus has a declination of approximately -52°, we can interpret that it is positioned 52° south of the celestial equator.
Therefore, the correct statement is:
- It is approximately 52° below the celestial equator.
