The Planetary Theory of Ibn al-Shatir: Reduction of the Geometric Models to Numerical Tables Author(s): Fuad Abbud Source:

Isis, Vol. 53, No. 4 (Dec., 1962), pp. 492-499 Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/227723 . Accessed: 10/10/2011 11:05
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The

Planetary Shatir: Geometric

Theory of Models Tables

of the
to

Ibn

al-

Reduction

Numerical
TWO
RECENT PAPERS

* By Fuad Abbud have described the models for motion

have also shown the close similarity between his models and those of Copernicus (fl. 1500). Both systems are made up of linkages of constantlength vectors rotating at constant angular velocity; both astronomers abandoned the Ptolemaic equant, and the lengths of corresponding vectors in the two systems are nearly equal, in many cases identical. Under the circumstances, it is desirable to compare further the work of these two scientists, and a logical next step is the examination of numerical tables in their respective writings. The true longitude of a planet can be regarded as a function of two independent variables, the mean longitude and the anomaly. An individual confronted with the problem of preparing tables for the determination of true longitudes could solve his problem by computing a value each for every combination of values in the chosen domain of both variables. But the labor of computation would be great, and the resulting tables of double entry very extensive. It was customary instead- and at the sacrifice of little if any precision - to compute for each planet four functions of a single variable, and to obtain the desired true longitude by a simple combination of these functions. This procedure, non-trivial from a mathematical point of view, was first worked out by Ptolemy. Ibn al-Shatir gives no explanation of how he has computed his tables, but their form resembles that of the Almagest. In attempting to infer his numerical methods, it seemed reasonable to try to duplicate Ibn al-Shatir's results by applying to his geometric models the Ptolemaic computational scheme, modifying it slightly in one respect. The attempt was successful, and the results are displayed in the tables below. Moreover, comparison of a range of results from the Copernican tables with corresponding entries from those of Ibn-Shatir demonstrates that Copernicus
*

worked out by Ibn al-Shatir (fl. 1350) of Damascus. These studies

The American University of Beirut.

Isis, 1957, 48, 428-432, and Isis, 1959, 50, 227-235.

492
ISIS, 1962, VOL. 53, PART4, No. 174.

THE PLANETARY THEORY OF IBN AL-SHATIR

493

also passed from model to numbers in the same manner as did his Damascene predecessor. Of course this does not demonstrate dependence of the later upon the earlier scientists. What is much more probable is that both, independently or otherwise, being confronted with the same problem, chose the eminently satisfactory Ptolemaic solution.
The Lunar Computational Scheme

The geometric model is shown in Figure 1. In order to facilitate com-

> C

4cr),r)

oy/"

FIG. 1

parison with Ptolemy's work the notation of 0. Neugebauer2 has been adopted. The two variables are now v, the moon's mean elongation from the sun, and y, its mean anomaly, both linear functions of time, and both shown on the figure. To any pair of values of r and y, there corresponds uniquely an e, also shown, the equation to be added to the mean longitude in order to obtain the true longitude. The procedure described below approximates e. Compute and tabulate the function c3 (2q), the angle by which the mean anomaly y must be modified to yield the true anomaly '.
2 In Appendix I of The Exact Sciences in Antiquity (2d ed., Providence, 1957).

494

FUAD ABBUD

Compute and tabulate the functions c4 (y) and C5 (y). The first is, for fixed anomaly, the angle subtended at O between K and the moon in its nearest position (N) to K. The second, c, is the angle subtended at O between the positions of the moon nearest and farthest from K, again for fixed 7. Thus far we are in a position to determine the lunar equation e for any value of the anomaly, but only for extreme values of the elongation, = 180?. It remains to define an interpolation function of one j ==0 and -q variable which will fix suitable values of the equation for intermediate elongations. To do this, consider an auxiliary function ar(2?) as shown in the figure, being for a given 2v the maximum value the lunar equation can have. Let the interpolation function then be
()-or(2 -a0)(00) r (180o) _ r,(2-)

2 (2~)-- (0?)

Finally, the equation is given by

e (,y) = c4 (y') +
C5 (Y.)'C2

(2v),

where

' ()

=)-

+ C3(2X).

The Planets

The computational scheme for the planets follows exactly the same lines as that for the moon. The model is shown in Figure 2. Now the variables are a and y, the former being the mean center (the mean longitude measured from apogee), the latter being the mean anomaly as before. The function c,' (a) defined as shown in the figure is to be tabulated. As before, it is the correction to be added to the mean anomaly (7) to obtain the true anomaly (') . The same goes for c4 (y) and c5 () , also shown on the figure. Here c4 is, for a given anomaly, the value of the equation when the mean planet is in apogee; c4 + c5 is the equation when the mean planet is in perigee. To obtain an interpolation function for intermediate values of y, again define an auxiliary function, ,r (a), being, for fixed a the maximum angle subtended at 0 by vector r4. Then put
Cs (a)

( )--

(0?)

Now 8 is approximated by the expression

a(a,7) where

c (/') + C6 (a) c5 (7')

' (a) =-y-

c3' (a).

Hence the true center (true longitude measured from apogee) is a- c3 (a) + S(a,7) .

THE PLANETARY THEORY OF IBN AL-SHATIR

495

FIG. 2

It should be remarked that this scheme diverges slightly from the Ptolemaic planetary procedure to the extent that Ptolemy computes an interpolation function ranging from - 1 to + 1 and he uses two different functions where Ibn al-Shatir and Copernicus have the single c5. With all three functions Ptolemy operates from the situation at mean distance to that at either apogee or perigee, whereas the c5 and c6 defined above give no special attention to the mean distance position.

496

FUAD ABBUD

Because of the great eccentricity of the orbit of Mercury the model for it used in common by Ibn al-Shatir and Copernicus is more elaborate than that of the other planets. Two vectors are placed on the end of r4 which have the effect of expanding and contracting the length of r4 in simple harmonic motion with a period twice that of the mean center a. Moreover, the direction of Mercury's r3 is the reverse of the r3 of the other planets. But these facts entail no necessarychange in the computational arrangements. Comparison of the Tables In Table 1, each of the four main columns (for c3,c4,c5 and c6, respectively) is split into three subcolumns. The first gives the results of independent computation, using Ibn al-Shatir'sparameters, for the moon, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury, and for thirty-degree intervals of the arguments. There is no point is displaying results for 0? and 180? since these are trivially either zero or unity. The second subcolumn is made up of the corresponding entries in the planetary tables of Ibn al-Shatir's astronomical handbook, Al-Zij al-Jadld. They are found on folios 23b-25a (for the moon), 42b-43a (for Saturn), 45b-46b (for Jupiter), 42b-49b (for Mars), 50b-51b (for Venus) and 53b54b (for Mercury) of Bodleian MS Seld. A. inf. 30, a microfilm of which has been made available by the Keeper of Oriental Books of the Bodleian Library, Oxford. The entries in the third subcolumn are from the planetary tables of Copernicus' De Revolutionibus.3 The parameters of each model are shown in the row following the name of each planet, the upper number of each pair of parameters being Ibn al-Shatir's, the lower Copernicus'. No comparison of the solar tables has been made, since the solar equation is a function of one variable only and no computational device is involved. Ibn al-Shatir'ssolar equation table appears on folio 23 of the Bodleian MS. Independent computation of several of the entries indicates that in general it is accurate to a second of arc. For the moon, Mars, and Mercury (Figures 3, 4, and 5) the information in Table 1 has been plotted to give the three sets of curves shown. Consideration of the table demonstrates that the marked similarity already observed between the geometric models of the two astronomers also holds for their numerical tables. Both have diverged slightly from the Ptolemaic computational scheme, and both have diverged the same way. At the same time, the tables are not identical; the slight differences in parameters have entailed corresponding differences in the functions. Thus it is clear that the Copernican values are independently computed. This fact is made doubly certain by the difference between the c6 for Mercury in the two cases. Ibn al-Shatirhas defined his interpolation function so that at a == 180?,
3 Vol. II of the Nikolaus Kopernikus Gesamtausgabe (Miinchen, 1949). Book IV, 11, and

Book V, 23.

THE PLANETARY THEORY OF IBN AL-SHATIR 9

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t

497

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JUPITER U?/TtS
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2;31 4;24 2;31 4;26

-S-.ICOIP

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o;8,30

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1;16 2;34 3;56 5; 2 4;26 0; 0 o; 1I 0;39 /;3 /;5 ;o0

246

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0; 8, 29 0; 31,39 ; 52, 2 /; 0,0 o;54,25

60
90 120

/;25 2;31 3; 1 2;44 1;38 o;o

s50 80 We
A

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1;24 2; 29
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I;*

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..

r-

TABLE

498

FUAD ABBUD

/210C/ / [c6

;4o

6--

\/\^^

-i

^-

o;.o --- 030

-

20 0 )o o;

2 7

or

'

FIG. 3. The functions for the moon.

60o

,o

120

I(

a0

or

r'

FIG. 4. The functions for Mars.

THE PLANETARY THEORY OF IBN AL-SHATIR

499

Zo

15

o -

5-

6c o-

0
or

120
oy

oC

FIG. 5. The functions for Mercury.

occurs when a == 120?, rather than when a - 180?. Hence he defines the

6 =-- 1, as for the other planets. Copernicus, on the other hand, has utilized the fact that for Mercury alone minimum distance of the planet from 0

interpolation function (shown dotted on the graph) so that at a = 120?, c-= 1. This entails a corresponding difference in definition of c5 and its values, also shown dotted on the graph.