天文算表的编算和使用是一门精密而复杂的科学，是古代天文学计算中最为核心的部分。本课题选取明代天文算表为主要研究对象，在全面梳理明代天文算表资料的基础上，通过建立明代天文算表数据库，并采用计算机辅助分析的方法，对明代主要算表的内容进行分析，以了解算表的构造、编算和精度；对明代历法推算步骤的“程式化”和算表的操作进行解析，以了解历算表的使用和操作特点；对同一算表在不同时期著作中的差异进行比较，以了解算表的版本及其在格式和数据上的变化，帮助我们认识算表的传承和传播。基于这些研究，全方位的分析明代天文算表的在编算、使用和传播等各个阶段中的特征。这不但有助于我们理解中国天文算表的发展，而且有助于我们进一步加深对这一时期天文学发展的认识。

The compiling and using of astronomical tables are exact and sophisticated science, they were also the most important parts of the ancient astronomy. This project will research the astronomical tables in the Ming China, based on the survey and analysis of different tables with computer-aided analysis and database technology. We will analyze the data of the tables, in order to understand their structure, compiling and accuracy. We will pay close attention to the operations and the norms of using tables in the process of calendrical calculations, in order to know how these tables are adopted and used flexibly. We will compare and analyze the identical tables in different works and various time periods, in order to find out their differences in layouts and data which are helpful to shed lights on their relations and disseminations. Based on the comprehensive analysis in these research aspects, we can find out the characteristics of astronomical tables of the Ming period in the compilation, adoption and transmission in different phases. This will not only helps us to know the development of Chinese astronomical tables better but also understand the astronomy science in the Ming period better.