Al-Battani
He made significant improvements to Ptolemy's astronomical tables and accurately determined the length of the tropical year.
Most quoted
"Our fleeting existence on Earth is but a moment compared to the eternal cycles of the cosmos. Yet, in this brief span, we are granted the capacity to observe and understand."
— from Kitāb az-Zīj as-Sābi'
"The beauty of the night sky, with its countless luminaries, is a testament to the artistry of the divine, an invitation to contemplation and wonder."
— from Kitāb az-Zīj as-Sābi'
"The celestial spheres, in their intricate dance, reveal the order and majesty of the Creator. To study them is to glimpse the divine mind at work."
— from Kitāb az-Zīj as-Sābi'
All quotes by Al-Battani (382)
I determined the solar parameters with more precision than my predecessors by using larger instruments and repeated observations.
The precession of the equinoxes proceeds at the rate of one degree in sixty-six years.
The knowledge of the stars is a noble science, for it elevates the mind to the contemplation of the celestial order.
In my work, I have relied not on the authority of men, but on the demonstration of geometry and the certainty of number.
The sun’s apogee moves gradually eastward among the fixed stars.
The true place of a planet is found by correcting its mean motion with equations derived from observation.
I have composed this book to correct and complete the Almagest, for the benefit of those who seek accuracy.
The declination of the sun is the arc of the circle between the sun and the celestial equator.
The sine and tangent are more useful in calculations than the chord, for they simplify the operations.
From the observation of eclipses, both solar and lunar, the true motions of the luminaries can be deduced.
The maximum equation of the sun’s anomaly is 1 degree and 59 minutes.
The sphere of the fixed stars participates in the motion of precession from west to east.
Let the student of astronomy be diligent in observation, for the heavens do not lie.
The ascendant at the time of a birth is determined by the degree of the ecliptic rising on the eastern horizon.
I have computed tables for the motions of the planets to facilitate the work of future astronomers.
The latitude of the moon varies between plus and minus five degrees.
The solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s cone of shadow touches the earth.
The lunar eclipse is caused by the earth’s shadow falling upon the moon.
The magnitude of an eclipse depends on the apparent diameters of the bodies and their proximity to the nodes.
The motion of the planets in longitude is not uniform, but is faster near perihelion and slower near aphelion.