L'astronome de Samarcande [French]

By Jean-Pierre Luminet

The life and work of one of the greatest astronomers of the Arab world, grandson of Tamerlane.In 1429, Samarkand is in effervescence. The largest astronomical observatory ever built has just been inaugurated. It is comprised of a massive sextant 80 meters tall, with a radius of 40 meters, rising out of the depths of the Earth, and a gigantic sundial whose outside walls are decorated with a vast fresco representing the zodiac. Inside are the most up-to-date measurement tools of time and space.
The promoter and director of the observatory, is none other than the prince and governor of Samarkand, Ulugh Beg, grandson of the conqueror of the Orient, Indus and Jourdan: the notorious Tamerlane. Passionate about science and mapping the skies, but a weak politician and warrior Ulugh Beg, with the help of the best astronomers of the time, will calculate the position of thousands of stars resulting in a major catalogue that will fascinate wise men, holy men and travelers from all over the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: French
• ISBN: 2709644835
• ISBN13: 9782709644839
• Release Date: August 2019
• Publisher: Editions J.C. Lattes
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.9"