The Book of Fixed Stars (Arabic: كتاب صور الكواكبkitāb suwar al-kawākib, literally The Book of the Shapes of Stars) is an astronomical text written by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (Azophi) around 964. Following the Graeco-Arabic translation movement in the 9th century AD, the book was written in Arabic, the common language for scholars across the vast Islamic territories, although the author himself was Persian. It was an attempt to create a synthesis of the comprehensive star catalogue in Ptolemy's Almagest (books VII and VIII) with the indigenous Arabic astronomical traditions on the constellations (notably the Arabic constellation system of the Anwā'). The original manuscript no longer survives as an autograph, however, the Book of Stars has survived in later-made copies. This image from the book shows the constellation of Orion, in mirror image as if on a celestial globe, and is from a copy in the Bodleian Library dated to the 12th century AD.Ilustration credit: Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi
I am happily married and have two little ankle biters that are very cute and lots of fun.
I am an Episcopalian, and strongly so. We are at least fourth-generation Episcopalians. But I am by no means an expert on religion, despite being a church-goer for all my life, and even attending (briefly) an Episcopal school. But I do study and am passionately interested in this wonderful and vibrant religion. I help around the church from time to time, and can swing a thurible and can carry a virge.
I am college educated. I have three college degrees relating to international business and international economics. Despite having a high GPA, I can still do some really stupid things.
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