Al sufi book of fixed stars

The book of the fixed stars was written by the persian astronomer abdulrahman alsufi around ad 964, and is one of the most important medieval arabic treatises on astronomy. The lunar crater azophi and the minor planet 12621 alsufi are named after him. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its. And while the noted greek astronomer ptolemy noted it as a haze, it was abd alrahman alsufi who first distinctly recorded in his kitab. Al sufi s book of fixed stars kitab al kawatib al thabit al musawwar includes a catalog of 1,018 stars, giving their approximate positions, magnitudes, and colors. Al sufi wrote his book of fixed stars in 964, in text and pictures biography. In 1998 a hitherto unknown early copy of al sufi s star atlas, dated 519ah 1125 ce, was auctioned in london by sothebys. The second is a 17thcentury ottoman turkish translation of the first part on the supraterrestrial creatures of kitab ajaib almakhluqat wagharaib almawjudat the wonders. The two oldest illustrated arabic manuscripts are copies of abd al rahman al sufi s treatise on the fixed stars. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of the fixed stars of alsufi. The investigation of stars, star clusters and nebulae in abd. Built on the basis of the greek astronomical heritage, the work of al sufi contained a listing of the arabs own star names, magnitudes determined by alsufi himself, and two. The book is the first illustrated pictorial star atlas, and was very influential for centuries after it was authored.

Influence on islamic and western celestial cartography. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars. The book of fixed stars is an astronomical text written by abd alrahman alsufi around 964. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of the. The lunar crater azophi and the minor planet 12621 al sufi are named after him. The book was written in arabic, although the author. Abd alrahan alsufi ad 903986 is justly famous for his book of the fixed stars. This book describes fortyeight constellations and the stars that they are composed of. This book, based on the almagest of the greek astronomer ptolemy, concerns the forty. The star atlas of al sufi the work was dedicated to the buyid ruler abushuja fannakhusraw, entitled adud al dawla 936 983, who was a friend and a pupil of al sufiand whose court was seated at shiraz until 97778 and baghdad epoch star catalogue. The book of the fixed stars has been copied down through the ages, and currently 35 copies are known to exist in various. The book of the fixed stars was written by the persian astronomer abdulrahman al sufi around ad 964, and is one of the most important medieval arabic treatises on astronomy. The book of fixed starsis an example of this process. In 964, the persian astronomer abd alrahman alsufi wrote his famous book of fixed stars, in which he gave arabic names to stars in the 48 classical constellations, discussing the stars.

Islamic the constellation leo, folio probably from the kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars 1998. Al sufi published kitab al kawatib al thabit al musawwar also commonly known as the book of fixed stars in ad 964 and dedicated it to adud al dawla, the current ruler of buwayhid at the time. Feb, 2015 tenthcentury astronomer abd al rahman al sufi s treatise on the fixed stars included both pictures and written descriptions of star patterns, including the celestial twins of. Alsufis work began from a simple act that was enshrined in bedouin folk tradition gazing at the stars in the night.

In 964, the persian astronomer abd al rahman al sufi wrote his famous book of fixed stars, in which he gave arabic names to stars in the 48 classical constellations, discussing the stars positions, sizes and colours. Abd al rahman al sufi december 7, 903 may 25, 986, sometimes known in the west as azophi, published the famous book of fixed stars in 964, describing much of his work, both in written descriptions and pictures g15djg from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Abd alrahman ibn umar alsufi muslim scientists and. Astronomical innovation in the islamic world modeling. Kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars of al sufi. Originally written in arabic, it was later translated into persian and also into latin. Pdf abdulrahman alsufi and his book of the fixed stars. Alsufi called it little cloud alternatively translated as a small cloudy patch and provided a representative image of. How is the book of fixed stars by al sufi significant in history. It was over a thousand years ago that mankind first acknowledged their nearest galactic neighbour the andromeda galaxy. The second is a 17thcentury ottoman turkish translation of the first part on the supraterrestrial creatures of kitab ajaib al makhluqat wagharaib al mawjudat the wonders. Book of fixed stars also, book of the 48 constellations dedicated to the buyid ruler, abu shujaa fana khusrow adud al dawla, 936 983 c. The second is a 17thcentury ottoman turkish translation of the first part on the supraterrestrial creatures of kitab ajaib almakhluqat wagharaib almawjudat the wonders of creation, a twopart cosmography by zakariya ibn muhammad alqazwini 120383. Al sufi book of fixed stars ursa major the great bear bodleian library marsh name a star for your significant other, and give the romantic gift of the night sky.

This appeared in or shortly after ad 964, some eight hundred years after the original almagest was written. The pictures show the configurations of the stars in the fortyeight constellations recognized by ptolemy, but the figures are dressed in oriental rather than classical greek garb. Abd al rahman al sufi 7 december 903 25 may 986, known as al sufi, was a persian astronomer. Andromeda galaxy as it appears in alsufis fixed stars. Al sufi produced a revised and updated version of ptolemys almagest in a major book called kitab suwar al kawakib the book of fixed stars, completed around 964 ce. It spread widely from central asia, throughout the middle east, and to europe. The oldest surviving illustrated arabic manuscript. Al sufi s book of the fixed stars, dating from around ad 964, is one of the most important medieval arabic treatises on astronomy.

Built on the basis of the greek astronomical heritage, the work of al sufi contained a listing of the arabs own star names, magnitudes determined by al sufi himself, and two. In a marginal note dated 1279 or 80 of this famous manuscript of abd al ra. Written around 964 the book contains extensive illustrations of each constellation from both the terrestrial perspective, looking up from earth, and the inverse, as the constellation would look from outside the sphere. The book of fixed stars is an astronomical text written by abd alrahman alsufi azophi around 964. Was a friend and pupil of alsufi, ruled shiraz alsufi mentions him in his book alhussain mentions him in his poem. A massive poem made up of 495 verses in total with each stanza describing the constellation in a simple and easy to understand language. He lived at the court of emir adud addaula in isfahan, persia, and worked on translating and expanding greek astronomical works, especially the almagest of ptolemy. Two folios from a manuscript of the kitab suwar alkawakib althabitathis manuscript is a late fifteenthcentury copy of the kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of images of the fixed stars, an astronomical treatise originally composed by abd alrahman alsufi d. The illustrations have clearly been redrawn from those in the manuscript known as marsh 144, kept in the bodleian library, oxford. This work is usually found at the end of the manuscripts of al sufi s book of fixed stars and has led to much confusion regarding the identity of the original author. Abd alrahman alsufi, book of the constellations and. And while the noted greek astronomer ptolemy noted it as a haze, it was abd al rahman al sufi who first distinctly recorded in his kitab.

James cook university, 2010 edition and partial english translation based on ms. The pictures show the configurations of the stars in the fortyeight constellations recognized by ptolemy, but the figures are dressed in oriental rather. This work was developed from ptolemys almagest, but was based upon al sufis own stellar observations. The investigation of stars, star clusters and nebulae in. This major work contains an extensive star catalogue, which lists star coordinates and magnitude estimates, as well as detailed star. Astronomical innovation in the islamic world modeling the. Abd alrahman alsufi ad 903986 is justly famous for his book of the fixed stars. The book was written in arabic, although the author himself was persian. One of the major processes in history is the process of cultural interaction and cultural exchange. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars, followed by maxims, and alqazwinis the wonders of creation. Al sufi published his famous book of fixed stars in 964, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars, followed by. Name a star after your significant other its a romantic gesture. He was the first astronomer to mention the andromeda galaxy, earths closest neighbour, calling it little cloud.

Also, he was the first to attempt to relate the greek with the traditional arabic star names and constellations, which was difficult as. He was the first astronomer to mention the andromeda. The front page from al sufi s kitab suwar al kawakib, this one is a copy from year 1417. Alsufi produced a revised and updated version of ptolemys almagest in a major book called kitab suwar alkawakib the book of fixed stars, completed around 964 ce. Kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars of al sufi author. This work was developed from ptolemys almagest, but was based upon alsufis own stellar observations. Abd alrahman alsufi 7 december 903 25 may 986, known as alsufi, was a persian astronomer. Al sufi called it little cloud alternatively translated as a small cloudy patch and.

Al sufi book of fixed stars ursa major the great bear bodleian library marsh 144. He also wrote a comprehensive treatise on the astrolabe in 1760 chapters which only survives in a shortened version in 170 chapters. The artwork closely mirrors what appeared in alsufis manuscript, the book of fixed stars. Abd alrahman alsufi and his book of the fixed stars.

His most famous work is the kitab suwar alkawakib, book of the constellations of the fixed stars 986 which described the 48 constellations from ptolemys almagest. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its influence on islamic and european celestial cartography robert h. How is the book of fixed stars by alsufi significant in. This major work contains an extensive star catalog, which lists star coordinates and magnitude estimates, as well as detailed star charts. It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the comprehensive star catalogue in ptolemys almagest books vii and viii with the indigenous arabic. Nebulous objects in al sufi s book of the fixed stars 1. Book of the constellations of the fixed stars the british library. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of. Abd al rahan al sufi ad 903986 is justly famous for his book of the fixed stars. Alsufi published kitab alkawatib althabit almusawwar also commonly known as the book of fixed stars in ad 964 and dedicated it to adud aldawla, the current ruler of buwayhid at the time. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its influence on.

Alsufi was one of the nine noted muslim astronomers. Kawakib althabitah book of the images of the fixed stars which he completed in shiraz around 964. Abd alsufi and observational astrophysics in ancient. This is an outstanding medieval treatise on astronomy that was written in ad 964. His most famous work is the kitab suwar al kawakib, book of the constellations of the fixed stars 986 which described the 48 constellations from ptolemys almagest. Tenthcentury astronomer abd alrahman alsufis treatise.

It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the most popular classical work of astronomy ptolemys almagest with the indigenous arabic. Alsufis book of the fixed stars, dating from around ad 964, is one of the most important medieval arabic treatises on astronomy. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper dimensions. This is an outstanding medieval treatise on astronomy that. Influence on islamic and european celestial cartography. Alsufi wrote his book of fixed stars in 964, in text and pictures. Al sufi contributed several corrections to ptolemys star list, in particular he did own brightnessmagnitude estimates which frequently deviated from those in ptolemys work. One of these is preserved in the bodleian library, oxford ms. Abd alrahman alsufi simple english wikipedia, the free. He mentions it as lying before the mouth of a big fish, an arabic constellation.

Other topics include descriptions of nebulae, colors of stars and arabic folk astronomy. It is considered important even now for the study of proper motions and long period variables. This major work contains detailed star charts and an extensive star. In his descriptions and pictures of andromeda, he included a little cloud which is actually the andromeda galaxy m31. In the book of the fixed stars, al sufi combined ptolemys work of mapping constellations with arabic astronomical traditions. The astronomical community has honored al sufi by naming a moon crater after him. The words around the crabs indicate the cardinal directions of. Relationship of the bright stars and their constellations.

Two folios from a manuscript of the kitab suwar al kawakib al thabitathis manuscript is a late fifteenthcentury copy of the kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of images of the fixed stars, an astronomical treatise originally composed by abd al rahman al sufi d. The artwork closely mirrors what appeared in al sufi s manuscript, the book of fixed stars. Book of fixed stars liber lucis stellarum fixarum, 964 ce. Al sufi published his famous book of fixed stars in 964 al sufi, 964, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. In 964 al sufi published his famous book kitab al kawatib al thabit al musawwar book of fixed stars, a masterpiece on stellar astronomy. It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the comprehensive star catalogue in ptolemy s almagest. In 1985, the east african country of somalia issued this set of four stamps containing constellation illustrations from al. On friday 27th of january, 2018, i gave a presentation at the kw rasc on al sufi s book of fixed stars.