De-scĕn’sion, n.

(-sĕn’shun), n. [Lat. descensio, from descendere, Pr. descensio, Sp. descension, It. descensione.] The act of going downward; descent; falling or sinking; degradation.

Oblique descension (Astron.), the degree or arc of the equator which descends, with a celestial object, below the horizon of an oblique sphere. [Obs.]—Right descension, the degree or arc of the equator which descends below the horizon of a right sphere at the same time with the object. [Obs.]