THE RISE OF astronomical almanacs.

Astronomical almanacs have been published since the Middle Ages and provide valuable information to observers of the sky. The Old Farmer's Almanac, in print since 1792, is one of the most notable almanacs in America. The U.S. government also publishes almanacs, including The Nautical Almanac, The Air Almanac, and The Astronomical Almanac. These almanacs provide positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets, and are used for scientific research, timekeeping, calendars, navigation, and more. The format of modern almanacs originated in Europe in the Middle Ages, and the first true astronomical almanac was produced by Johannes Müller von Königsberg in the 15th century. Almanacs have played significant roles in history, such as Christopher Columbus using an almanac to predict a lunar eclipse and convince the Indigenous peoples of Jamaica to provide food for his crew. Almanacs have also been important in Britain and America for navigation, farming, and everyday living. The Astronomical Almanac is a comprehensive resource used by astronomers, while other almanacs, such as the Observer's Handbook, are more useful to amateurs. Almanacs are ephemeral, providing insights into the past, information for the present, and a glimpse of the future. They have even been known to influence legal cases, such as when Abraham Lincoln used an almanac to prove a witness wrong and [Extracted from the article]