Old instruments
Lunar Distance Table
Direct answer
Lunar Distance Table is a table of predicted angular distances between the Moon and selected bodies for determining Greenwich time.
Lunar Distance Table is a historical longitude table used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Related
- Tide Table, Equation of Time Table, Star Atlas, Planisphere
Lunar Distance Table is a historical longitude table used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
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The story behind Lunar Distance Table
Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century nautical almanacs published lunar distances for practical longitude work.
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Why Lunar Distance Table matters
Lunar Distance Table matters because it made the Moon into a moving celestial clock before reliable marine chronometers were widely available.
Lunar Distance Table in practice: an example
A navigator compares a cleared Moon-star distance with the tabulated sequence to infer Greenwich time.
Where readings of Lunar Distance Table go wrong
The method is calculation-heavy and highly sensitive to observation, refraction, parallax, and limb corrections.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical and Navigational Almanacs - Official descriptions of the Astronomical Almanac, Nautical Almanac, and their tabular data.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency: The American Practical Navigator - Official modern reference for navigation principles, celestial observations, sight reduction, and navigational tables.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is Lunar Distance Table?
Lunar Distance Table is a table of predicted angular distances between the Moon and selected bodies for determining Greenwich time.
What do people get wrong about Lunar Distance Table?
The method is calculation-heavy and highly sensitive to observation, refraction, parallax, and limb corrections.
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