The Melon-Shaped Astrolabe in Arabic Astronomy

Texts edited with Translation and Commentary

edited by E.S. Kennedy, P. Kunitzsch and R. Lorch

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Extent: 235 pages

Publisher: Franz Steiner Verlag

Subjects: Earth & Life Sciences 

Series: Boethius

Series volume number: 43

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(June 1999)

ISBN: 9783515075619

6.65 x 9.45 inches

Price: $59.00

Out of stock

The astrolabe was for many centuries the most popular of all astronomical instruments. Invented during the Hellenistic period, it proliferated in medieval times, especially in the lands of Islam and consequently also in Europe. The melon-shaped astrolabe is a special form of astrolabe. Unlike the commonly known planispheric instrument, it does not depend on stereographic projection. A description of its principles is to be found in the introduction and in the texts edited here. Making the instrument required elaborate mathematical procedures, which are themselves of considerable historical interest. Presented here are extended texts by Habash al-Hasib (9th century) and al-Biruni (d. 1048), together with extracts and references by other authors. The texts are accompanied by English translations and followed by detailed mathematical commentaries.

  • Edited by ES Kennedy
  • Edited by P Kunitzsch
  • Edited by R Lorch