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
Observatories, instruments & objects
Knowledge connections
- Part ofIslamic Golden Age Astronomy
- ObservedAndromeda Galaxy
- PublishedBook of Fixed Stars
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.
- IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.