What essential religious function did the astrolabe serve in the Islamic world?
Answer
Determining the Qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca
By inputting location data for the observer and Mecca, skilled users could calculate the precise bearing required for prayer orientation.
#Videos
How to use an astrolabe I Curator's Corner S3 Ep1 #CuratorsCorner
Related Questions
What does the Greek root of the term "astrolabe" signify?What is the thick circular frame that houses the astrolabe's internal components called?Which component is described as a pierced, openwork map representing the celestial sphere?Which plate, specific to the observer's latitude, sits inside the mater and displays a map of the local horizon?What is the function of the alidade, which pivots across the back of the instrument?During daytime time calculation, what measurement, combined with the known date, allows the user to find the hour?How is time determined at night using the astrolabe?What astronomical calculation becomes accessible once the altitude of a known star or the Sun (on a known date) is precisely determined?What brilliant, practical application of the astrolabe involves using basic trigonometry to measure inaccessible features?What essential religious function did the astrolabe serve in the Islamic world?Which historical period saw the astrolabe undergo significant refinement, standardization, and the addition of crucial tables by Islamic artisans?