Astronomical Almanacs *

Time references in US and UK astronomical and navigational almanacs

An astronomical or navigational almanac can best be thought of as a device for connecting an observer with celestial objects. For an observer with a known position and time the almanac allows the observer to identify the celestial objects. Conversely, if the observer knows what objects he is observing and when, the almanac allows him to determine his position. In either case, knowledge of the t...

Almanacs

English Almanacs and Animal Health Care in the Seventeenth Century

In seventeenth-century England, the health and welfare of nonhuman animals rested almost solely on the shoulders of their keepers. Veterinary institutions had not yet been founded, and academically trained animal doctors did not exist. Laymen, however, had access to a great deal of information on animal health care. A range of printed publications were available that offered medical advice. The...

An approximation to the errors in the planetary ephemerides of the Astronomical Almanac

Errors in the planetary coordinates of the Astronomical Almanac are approximated by comparing their fundamental ephemerides, upon which they are based, with a more recent ephemeris. JPL’s DE200 provided the fundamental planetary and lunar ephemerides of the Astronomical Almanac for the years, 1984–2002, and DE405 has replaced DE200 in that role, starting in 2003. Recently, new observational mea...

[Selling health! A new look at old-time pharmacy almanacs].

Offering images of pharmaceutical products and marketing strategies, pharmacy almanacs are a valuable source when researching the history of medications. The article analyzes the idea of science that was presented in these almanacs and demonstrates how this research source is pertinent to the history both of science and of advertising in Brazil.