Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
He developed the Tusi couple, a mathematical device that allowed for the generation of linear motion from circular motion, impacting later models.
Most quoted
"To be a true scholar, one must be willing to admit error, even if it means losing an argument to a younger, less experienced mind. A bitter pill, but necessary."
— from Attributed
"The apparent retrograde motion of the planets is not a true motion, but an illusion caused by the combination of their own motion and the Earth's motion."
— from Al-Tadhkira fi 'ilm al-hay'a (Memoir on Astronomy)
"To truly understand the heavens, one must first understand the limitations of the earthly mind. A task often more challenging than mapping the stars."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (433)
The Milky Way is a river of light across the night sky.
To study the stars is to contemplate eternity.
Comets herald change, yet follow predictable paths.
The astrolabe unlocks the secrets of the heavens.
In the rotation of spheres, we find divine symmetry.
Observations at Maragheh have refined the ancient models.
The soul ascends through knowledge of the celestial realm.
Lunar phases teach us the illusion of permanence.
Equinoxes mark the balance of day and night, as in all things.
Stars whisper prophecies to those who listen with math.
The precession of equinoxes reveals time's subtle shift.
Heavenly bodies obey laws etched by the divine hand.
Through trigonometry, we map the unreachable skies.
The universe is a book written in the language of light.
Solar eclipses remind us of the fragility of sight.
In the vastness of space, humanity finds its place.
Constellations are stories etched in eternal night.
The Tusi couple corrects the imperfections of Ptolemy.
Night skies teach patience to the observer's heart.
Galileo's precursors in Baghdad dreamed of heliocentrism.