Medieval Muslim astronomy work was based on ancient Greek and Indian sources They continued to create detailed models of the universe
Under the abbasid caliphs al-Mansur and al-Ma’mun astronomy was greatly encouraged
At this time, scientists translated studies in Sanskrit, Pahlavi, and Greek into Arabic Sanskrit and Pahlavi sources taught medieval muslim astronomers methods for calculating the position of heavenly bodies, and for creating tables recording the movement of the sun, the moon, and the other five known planets
The Bedouin traditions contained knowledge on the fixed stars seasons and associated phenomenon These recordings helped knowing the time and direction of Mecca for prayer, the moment of sunrise and sunset for fasting during Ramadan, and for fixing the appearance of the moon that marked the start of a new month …show more content…
‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (903–986) was one of the most important scientists doing this work, supported by the Buyid sultan ‘Adud al-Dawla, who he dedicated his Illustrated Book of the Fixed Stars. This book describes the forty-eight constellations formed by what were called the “fixed stars” Other important scientists of the time include al-Biruni, who wrote al-Qanun al-Mas’udi, dedicated to Sultan Mas’ud of Ghazna, on the topics of astronomy and solar, lunar, and planetary motions; and Ibn al-Haytham, who measured the thickness of the atmosphere and its effect on astronomical