The Determination of The Coordinates of Positions For The Correction of Distances Between Cities. Al-Biruni’s Tahdid al-Amakin Litasbhih Masafat al-Masakin

DESCRIPTION

xviii, 278 pp; translated by Jamil Ali; 67 figures, index, Centinnal Publications of the American University of Beirut. Paper Back edition, as published. Copy clean and in very good condition. The book is a translation from Arabic of Kitab Tahdid al-Amakin, a major astronomical work by Abu al-Raihan al-Biruni (973-c. 1050), perhaps the greatest scientist of his day. It contains among other highlights a lucid exposition of the different methods used by the author for the determination of the latitudes and longitudes of cities, which is essential for an accurate cartography of the earth. He also describes a method of his own invention for the measurement of the size of the earth. He applied his method with outstanding success at the fort of Nandana, in India, where he was a virtual prisoner.