Astronomer · 903 CE – 986 CE

Al-Sufi

History of AstronomyIslamic Golden Age Astronomy

Biography

Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, known in Latin as Azophi, revised Ptolemy's star catalogue against his own observations in his Book of Fixed Stars. He described the Andromeda Galaxy as a 'little cloud' — the first record of a galaxy beyond our own — and his star names survive in modern nomenclature.

Scientific contributions

Wrote the Book of Fixed Stars (964 CE)
Recorded the earliest known description of the Andromeda Galaxy
Transmitted many traditional Arabic star names still in use

Major publications

Book of Fixed Stars964 CE

Observatories, instruments & objects

Observed

Andromeda Galaxy

Knowledge connections

Sources & references

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.
IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.

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