Dictionary term
Nautical Almanac
Direct answer
Nautical Almanac: The Nautical Almanac is an annual publication of tabulated celestial-position data arranged for practical navigation at sea and other forms of celestial navigation.
The Nautical Almanac supplies yearly celestial data for navigational sight reduction.
The Nautical Almanac supplies yearly celestial data for navigational sight reduction.
An engraved functional orientation; the page explains the real instrument, method, or publication.Quick reference
- Use when
- Use the Nautical Almanac with a sextant, accurate UTC, a documented sight-reduction method, and the edition for the observation year.
- Do not use it for
- Do not treat the tables alone as a complete navigation system or omit instrument, horizon, refraction, and height corrections.
- Reference category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Related terms
- Almanac, Astronomical Almanac, Astrolabe, Armillary Sphere
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The story behind Nautical Almanac
Nautical almanacs became essential companions to improved marine timekeeping and mathematical navigation, giving mariners standardized predictions of celestial positions.
Nautical Almanac in spiritual tradition
The Nautical Almanac turns careful observation, a reliable clock, and shared tables into orientation across open water.
Nautical Almanac: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual astronomy, calendar, Earth-science, cultural, or historical reference. It can support wonder at the created order without becoming a claim of fate, worship, or private revelation.
Nautical Almanac in numerology
Nautical Almanac is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Nautical Almanac matters
It connects a measured angle between a celestial body and the horizon with the time-dependent reference data needed to determine a line of position.
Nautical Almanac at work: an example
A navigator combines a timed sextant altitude of the Sun with the almanac's data and correction tables to calculate a position line.
Where interpretation stops
Nautical Almanac is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical and Navigational Almanacs - Official description of current Astronomical Almanac and Nautical Almanac publications.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Almanac Glossary - Reference definitions for astronomical coordinates, events, calendars, and time scales.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Also appears in
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-15
Learn the celestial-navigation workflow
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More in Historical Almanacs & Instruments
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- Volvelle
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Common questions
What is Nautical Almanac?
The Nautical Almanac is an annual publication of tabulated celestial-position data arranged for practical navigation at sea and other forms of celestial navigation.
How is Nautical Almanac used in an almanac?
Use the Nautical Almanac with a sextant, accurate UTC, a documented sight-reduction method, and the edition for the observation year.
What should I avoid when interpreting Nautical Almanac?
Do not treat the tables alone as a complete navigation system or omit instrument, horizon, refraction, and height corrections.
