Maps of Solar Eclipses from 1855 to 1859

While the British Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris was widely used by many sea-faring nations, it became desirable for the United States to inaugurate its own national almanac so that astronomical tables could reference the Washington meridian, to replace expenditures to England with a local almanac, and for reasons of national pride. In 1849, the U.S. Congress passed legislation for the creation of an American almanac.

The first edition of the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac appeared for the year 1855. This almanac contains astronomical data published for both the Washington and Greenwich meridians and included maps of solar eclipses from its first edition onwards.