"Book of Fixed Stars." Photo: press service of the Center for Islamic Civilization
The museum of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent will feature the oldest known star map, the Book of Fixed Stars, compiled by astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi in 960. The press service of the Center reported the news.
The map will be displayed as a facsimile, since the original has not survived. Over the centuries, however, the book was repeatedly copied and illustrated. Today, the best-known manuscripts are preserved in leading collections around the world: the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha (one of the earliest, dating to around 1125), the Bodleian Library in Oxford, and the British Library in London.
One particularly interesting copy is housed in the National Library of France in Paris. It was commissioned by Mirzo Ulugh Beg in the 15th century, and its margins even bear notes written by the great astronomer himself. In 2022, a facsimile edition of this manuscript was published at the request of the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage.
According to experts, the Book of Fixed Stars reflects the high level of astronomical knowledge that enabled scholars of the Islamic world to predict the movements of celestial bodies, calculate time, and develop calendars and navigational tools. These foundations gave rise not only to medieval science but also to modern technologies—from the sextant to GPS.
Curators of the Center note that the map will be part of a multimedia installation, which will include artifacts from different eras as well as interactive materials illustrating the development of astronomy, from the works of al-Biruni to today’s astrophysical models.
The Center for Islamic Civilization is a project initiated by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as part of an effort to promote enlightened Islam as a religion of goodness, peace, and tolerance. The Center houses a museum within its building.
