The Nautical Almanac
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The Nautical Almanac is an annual publication that provides astronomical data essential for navigation. Inaugurated in 1766, it was developed under the supervision of Nevil Maskelyne, the English astronomer royal, to make Johann Tobias Mayer's accurate lunar motion tables useful to sailors.1
The almanac contains tables for determining longitude, a crucial aspect of navigation. It lists the positions of celestial bodies like the Sun, Moon, and planets, along with their coordinates in terms of Greenwich Civil Time. Navigators use this information, along with measurements from instruments like a sextant, to calculate their position on Earth. The Nautical Almanac was established to provide the precision needed for these astronomical calculations, aiding sailors in their voyages.12
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