A Survey and Preliminary Analysis of Zīj- i Shustaka

This article provides an edition of the Persian translation of Zīj-i Shustaka written originally in Arabic by an Iranian astronomer, Husayn b MūsāHurmuzī, around 10 centuries ago. Different from most known Zījes, this short treatise does not include many detailed tables. It only has two relatively small tables for calculating the conjunctions and oppositions of the sun and the moon, and the lunar crescent visibility. Using the astronomical calendars of four years prior to the given year, Hurmuzī calculates the ecliptical longitudes of the sun, the moon, and the planets. He actually makes use of the known periods of the motions of the celestial bodies. A preliminary analysis of his methods follows the Persian text. A photo of a very old Arabic manuscript is also provided at the end of the article