The astrolabe is one of Islamic science’s most important and complex astronomical instruments. Here's how it's used. | NOVA l PBS

What is an Astrolabe? Think of the astrolabe as the “smartphone of the medieval world.” Long before GPS or Google Maps, scholars, sailors, and astronomers used this intricate instrument to read the stars, measure time, find direction, and even calculate prayer timings. It’s a flat, disk-shaped device, often made of brass, with moving parts that mimic the sky. A Brief History The astrolabe has roots going back to ancient Greece, but it truly flourished in the Islamic Golden Age. Muslim scholars r