Al-Sufi publishes the Book of Fixed Stars
Al-Sufi publishes the Book of Fixed Stars
Overview
In 964 the Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi published the Book of Fixed Stars, a refined revision of Ptolemy's catalogue that assigned each star a measured position, magnitude and illustration within its constellation. It recorded the first known description of the Andromeda Nebula and of the Magellanic region, extending ancient catalogues with fresh observation. Al-Sufi's work became the standard reference for stellar astronomy in the Islamic world and shaped later European charts.