It spread widely from central asia, throughout the middle east, and to europe. 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 of the 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. Kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars of al sufi artist. David storm rice, the oldest illustrated arabic manuscript, bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies, 22 1959, 207220. The book of fixed stars, which is based on the almagest, claudius ptolemys most important treatise on the stars. In the year 964 ad, al sufi published his findings in a book titled kitab al kawatib al thabit al musawwar, or the book of fixed stars. The book of fixed stars by abd alrahman alsufi all. The book of the fixed stars has been copied down through the ages, and currently 35 copies are known to exist in various.
Influence on islamic and western celestial cartography. Abd alsufi and observational astrophysics in ancient. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Richard stephenson and wayne orchiston centre for astronomy, james cook university, townsville. Al sufi was the first astronomer to describe the nebulosity of the nebula in andromeda in his book of constellations atlas of heavens. This book, based on the almagest of the greek astronomer ptolemy, concerns the forty. 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. The book was written in arabic, although the author. 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. 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. Influence on islamic and european celestial cartography. This work was developed from ptolemys almagest, but was based upon alsufis own stellar observations. Dont know who rewrote or first translated sufi s book. In andromeda galaxy stars by the islamic astronomer al.
Alsufi called it little cloud alternatively translated as a small cloudy patch and provided a representative image of it a girl standing in front of a fish, representing andromedas placement in front of the. Kawakib althabitah book of the images of the fixed stars which he completed in shiraz around 964. Mar 23, 2009 al sufi s book of fixed stars appears to be itself a rewrite of ptolomys almagest. This is attested to by a gilded dedication panel on folio 1r. 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.
On friday 27th of january, 2018, i gave a presentation at the kw rasc on al sufi s book of fixed stars the book is the first illustrated pictorial star atlas, and was very influential for centuries after it was authored. Alsufis book of the fixed stars, dating from around ad 964, is one of the most important medieval arabic treatises on astronomy. Jan 29, 2020 how is the book of fixed stars by alsufi significant in history. 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. This major work contains detailed star charts and an extensive. Carboni 1997 two folios from a manuscript of the kitab suwar alkawakib althabita this 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. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars, followed by maxims, and alqazwinis the wonders of creation. If anyone knows any other information could please tell me.
Abd al rahman alsufi, known in the west as azophi, was one of the two most outstanding practical astronomers of the middle ages. In the year 964 ad, alsufi published his findings in a book titled kitab alkawatib althabit almusawwar, or the book of fixed stars. The manuscripts usually have 2 versions of each constellation looking up from earth and looking down at a cellestial globe. Al sufi s book provides corrections to data that ptolemy had recorded of many stars. In the book of the fixed stars, al sufi combined ptolemys work of mapping constellations with arabic astronomical traditions.
The second is a 17thcentury ottoman turkish translation of the first part on the supraterrestrial creatures of kitab ajaib almakhluqat wagharaib almawjudat the wonders. 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. Abd alrahman alsufi azophi european southern observatory. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars, followed by. In this work, al sufi describes the 48 constellations that were established by ptolemy and adds criticisms and corrections of his own. The book of fixed starsis an example of this process. Capricorn from the liber locis stellarum fixarum 964 of abd arrahman assufi ptolomeic constellations of the universe 1428. The lunar crater azophi and the minor planet 12621 al sufi are named after him. Then i had to identify the criteria with which to choose the manuscripts which were used as the bases for the translation and discussions. In a marginal note dated 1279 or 80 of this famous manuscript of abd al ra. Illustrations from book of fixed stars kitab suwar alkawakib al. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of the. Originally written in arabic, it was later translated into persian and also into latin.
And while the noted greek astronomer ptolemy noted it as a haze, it was abd alrahman alsufi who first distinctly recorded in his kitab. He mentions it as lying before the mouth of a big fish, an arabic constellation. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the most popular classical work of astronomy ptolemys almagest with the indigenous arabic. Interactive moon sign calendar with moon phase and moon sign calculation, timing with the moon, background information. Al sufi published his famous book of fixed stars in 964 al sufi, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. This is a clear instance of the two cultures interacting to create an enriched work of science.
How is the book of fixed stars by alsufi significant in history. This is an outstanding medieval treatise on astronomy that was written in ad 964. Book of the constellations of the fixed stars the british library. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its influence on islamic and european celestial cartography robert h. 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. This major work contains an extensive star catalog, which lists star coordinates and magnitude estimates, as well as detailed star charts.
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. The constellation of corvus the raven, folio from suwar al kawakib al thabita the book of fixed stars by abd al rahman b. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, 5 34 x 7 78 in. Sep 25, 2011 abd alrahman alsufi 903 986 was a persian astronomer. 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. He also wrote a comprehensive treatise on the astrolabe in 1760 chapters which. Abd alrahman alsufi and his book of the fixed stars nasaads. In many cases, he confirmed ptolemys discoveries, but he. Was a friend and pupil of al sufi, ruled shiraz al sufi mentions him in his book al hussain mentions him in his poem. Al sufis 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.
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 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. Get an answer for how is the book of fixed stars by al sufi significant in history. He published his famous book of fixed stars in 964, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of the fixed stars of alsufi. Abd alrahman alsufi and his book of the fixed stars. In 964, al sufi wrote what was to be his most famous book, his masterpiece. It is considered important even now for the study of proper motions and long period variables. The book of fixed stars by abd al rahman al sufi all astronomers know the names of ptolemy, tycho brahe and johannes hevelius, three landmark characters who catalogued the stars with everincreasing accuracy between the second and seventeenth centuries. Alsufis book of the constellations of the fixed stars. The investigation of stars, star clusters and nebulae in abd.
One of the major processes in history is the process of cultural interaction and cultural exchange. Abd alrahan alsufi ad 903986 is justly famous for his book of the fixed stars. In this book, alsufi combined hellenistic knowledge with the astronomical knowledge of the arabs. Like all books in the days before printing, the book of the fixed stars was written and illustrated by hand.
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. Islamic the constellation leo, folio probably from the kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars 1998. A study in islamic constellation images, by emmy wellesz, in ars orientalis 3 1959, pp. He lived at the court of the emire adud addaula in isfahan persia, working on astronomical studies based on greek work, especially the almagest of ptolemy. A massive poem made up of 495 verses in total with each stanza describing the constellation in a simple and easy to understand language. Andromeda galaxy as it appears in alsufis fixed stars. Further copies had to be handmade too, and each copy was unique and prone to loss or damage. Astronomical innovation in the islamic world modeling. This book is also a good example of the importance of muslim scholars in medieval times.
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. Al sufi called it little cloud alternatively translated as a small cloudy patch and provided a representative image of. 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. Abdalrahman al sufi december 7, 903 seds messier database. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its influence on. Alsufi called it little cloud alternatively translated as a small cloudy patch and provided a representative image of. The book is the first illustrated pictorial star atlas, and was very influential for centuries after it was authored. A 12thcentury iraqi illustrated manuscript of abd al rahman al sufi s book of fixed stars.
Sep 4, 2014 kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars of al sufi stay safe and healthy. The work was dedicated to the buyid ruler abu shuja. The book was written in arabic, although the author himself was persian. It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the comprehensive star catalogue in ptolemys almagest books vii and viii with the indigenous arabic. Alsufis book of the images of the fixed stars and its. Al sufi s drawings became the canonical representations of these constellations. Pdf abdulrahman alsufi and his book of the fixed stars. In his descriptions and pictures of andromeda, he included a little cloud which is actually the andromeda galaxy m31. 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.
This book describes fortyeight constellations and the stars that they are composed of. 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. Was a friend and pupil of alsufi, ruled shiraz alsufi mentions him in his book alhussain mentions him in his poem. Other topics include descriptions of nebulae, colors of stars and arabic folk astronomy. This is an outstanding medieval treatise on astronomy that. On friday 27th of january, 2018, i gave a presentation at the kw rasc on alsufis book of fixed stars. Islamic the constellation leo, folio probably from the kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of the fixed stars 1998. Abd alrahman alsufi ad 903986 is justly famous for his book of the fixed stars.
Al sufi published his famous book of fixed stars in 964, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. Abd al rahman al sufi, known in the west as azophi, was one of the two most outstanding practical astronomers of the middle ages. Sep 4, 2014 kitab suwar al kawakib al thabita book of the images of the fixed stars of al sufi. Astronomical innovation in the islamic world modeling the. This appeared in or shortly after ad 964, some eight hundred years after the original almagest was written. 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. 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. Al sufi s most famous work is kitab suwar al kawakib book of the constellations of the fixed stars, which he published around 964. 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. Kitab suwar alkawakib althabita book of the images of. Liber locis stellarum fixarum abd alrahman alsufi 964. Constellations in the 10th century islamic world aleph. Fixed stars archives and manuscripts at the bodleian library. Mar 22, 2014 the constellation pegasus by abd arrahman al sufi, from pergamenthandschrift m ii 141.
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