Star Points for October, 2001; by Curtis Roelle Arab Influence Seen In American Skies The recent terrorist events have turned the attention of many persons toward the world of Islam. In the distant past the Middle East was a significant player in the history of astronomy. This month's discussion focuses on that role. In ancient times a golden age of science and astronomy reached its peak with the classical Greek philosophers. Out of the countless theories that materialized from the fertile minds of the likes of Pythagoras, Plato, Eudoxus, Herakleides, Apollonius, Aristarchus, and Hipparchus the one that achieved the greatest staying power might surprise us today. Claudius Ptolemaeus, also known as Ptolemy, was, according to the British author Patrick Moore, the "last great astronomer of Classical times." In Ptolemy's universe the earth occupied the center. Sun, Moon, planets, and stars revolved around the Earth in order from the closest to the farthest: 1) Moon, 2) Mercury, 3) Venus, 4) Sun, 5) Mars, 6) Jupiter, 7) Saturn, and 8) the great spherical shell of "fixed" stars. The geometry Ptolemy used in describing the motions of the planets was excessively complex. This mess would not get straightened out until Copernicus and Kepler came along in the 16th and 17th centuries. Not only did the planets in Ptolemy's system move in perfect circles but the circles themselves had smaller intersecting circles, points, and miscellaneous parts that never seemed to work quite right. The various parts had names such as epicycle, deferent, and excentric. All of these complex motions were written up by the Alexandrian astronomer in his famous book the Almagest first published in the 2nd Century A.D. It became the standard for more than 14 centuries thereafter. Upon the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D. the writings of philosophers lost popularity as powerful early Christian leaders demanded literal interpretation of contemporary translations of the Bible in which the world was created in six Earth days -- a flat motionless world (otherwise everyone on the other side would either fall away or be flung off by the motion). Thus the Dark Ages of the Medieval era descended on Europe nearly extinguishing the flame of scientific thought. In the meantime scientific curiosity including interest in astronomy found fertile ground in the Arab world. The writings of the philosophers including the Almagest were being translated into Arabic. During the next several hundred years astronomy found a home in the area described by the Danish astronomer J.L.E. Dreyer as "Muhammedan Asia." For instance a great observatory was erected in the city of Baghdad in 829. Although the telescope would not be invented for nearly 800 more years, the observatory was equipped with instruments for making visual measurements. The Arabs managed to keep astronomy alive although little if any scientific advancement was made. A book by Ahmed ben Muhammed Al Farangi entitled "Elements of Astronomy" contributed to a rekindling of interest in science helping to lead Europe out of the Dark Ages when it was translated into Latin in the 12th century. Writing about the Middle Eastern contribution to astronomy in his book "A History of Astronomy from Thales to Kepler," first published in 1905, Dreyer wrote that the Europeans "found astronomy practically in the same state in which Ptolemy had left it in the second century." G.E. Strechert was considerably less charitable in 1899 when he described the "heathen Arabs" as "star-worshipers" that were "entirely unscientific" and "superstitious" prior to the time in which "their more cultured class" began to take astronomy seriously. But even that "was solely along the lines laid down by Ptolemy, and they originated little." The Arabs did contribute one very significant and lasting astronomical legacy. Many of stars in our sky to this day still bear the names bestowed by the Arabs centuries ago. From Aldebaron to Zuban, and Almerzamonnagied to Zuben el Genubi, the Arabs have forever left their mark on our earthly celestial vault. So we can thank the Arabs for giving us names for the stars and maintaining the science of astronomy while western culture sank into the Dark Ages. Perhaps now it is our turn to be the good steward of science as it seems another age of intolerant darkness has descended elsewhere in our world.