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Journal ofApplied Mathematics and Stochastic Analysis 7, Numr 1, Spring 1994 SHORT REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS GEOMETRICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF STAR CONFIGURATIONS. DATING PTOLEMY’S ALMAGEST CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993. ANATOLY T. FOMENKO Department of Mathematics and Mechanics Moscow State University 119899 Moscow, Russia anatoly@fomenko, mian. su VLADIMIR V. KALASHNIKOV Institute of Systems Studies, 9, Prospect 60 let Oktyabrya, 117312 Moscow, Russia mconeau@glas, apc. org Fax: (095) 938-2209 and G.V. NOSOVSKY Department of Mathematics andMechanics Moscow State University 119899 Moscow, Russia. The book presents an unusual application of statistical and geometrical methods to dating ancient astronomical documents. An exciting result of the book consists of placing the date of Ptolemy’s principal work "Almagest" in the Middle Ages instead of its traditional date (second century A.D.). The main body of the book contains statistical analysis of Ptolemy’s star catalogue (systematic errors, accuracy, inclination of the ecliptic, dating the star catalogue). The elaborated method is tested on some medieval star catalogs (T. Brahe, Ulugh Beg, Hevelius, AI Sufi). In addition, the results are confirmed by other dating based on coverings of stars and lunar eclipses. The book contains necessary notions and concepts of astronomy and history and an addendum discussing historical problems and hypotheses related to dating the Almagest. 92 Printed in the U.S.A. (C) 1994 by North Atlantic Science Publishing

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Page 1: GEOMETRICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF …downloads.hindawi.com/archive/1994/627809.pdf · The bookpresents an unusual application ofstatistical and geometrical methods

Journal ofApplied Mathematics and Stochastic Analysis7, Numr 1, Spring 1994SHORT REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

GEOMETRICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODS OFANALYSIS OF STAR CONFIGURATIONS.

DATING PTOLEMY’S ALMAGEST

CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993.

ANATOLY T. FOMENKODepartment ofMathematics andMechanics

Moscow State University119899 Moscow, Russia

anatoly@fomenko,mian.su

VLADIMIR V. KALASHNIKOVInstitute ofSystems Studies, 9, Prospect 60 let

Oktyabrya, 117312 Moscow, Russiamconeau@glas,apc.orgFax: (095) 938-2209

and

G.V. NOSOVSKYDepartment ofMathematics andMechanics

Moscow State University119899 Moscow, Russia.

The book presents an unusual application of statistical and geometrical methods todating ancient astronomical documents. An exciting result of the book consists of placing thedate ofPtolemy’s principal work "Almagest" in the Middle Ages instead of its traditional date(second century A.D.). The main body ofthe book contains statistical analysis of Ptolemy’sstar catalogue (systematic errors, accuracy, inclination of the ecliptic, dating the star cata-logue). The elaborated method is tested on some medieval star catalogs (T. Brahe, Ulugh Beg,Hevelius, AI Sufi). In addition, the results are confirmed by other dating based on coverings ofstars and lunar eclipses. The book contains necessary notions and concepts of astronomy andhistory and an addendum discussing historical problems and hypotheses related to dating theAlmagest.