Astronomical Computation in the Pre-Modern World: Methods – Tables – Accuracy
ZODIAC Workshop Computation
Download: Poster
Download: Program
Download: Abstracts
The project Zodiac - Ancient Astral Science in Transformation (ERC) at the Institute for the History of Knowledge of the Ancient World, Freie Universität Berlin, is hosting a workshop on 11–12 April 2024:
Astronomical Computation in the Pre-Modern World: Methods – Tables – Accuracy
Fabeckstraße 23–25, room 2.2058
14195 Berlin
Convenors: Mathieu Ossendrijver and Thomas Peeters
This workshop brings together specialists of predictive methods in pre-modern astronomy. The focus is on zodiac-based computational methods in ancient Babylonia, Egypt, and the Greco-Roman world (ca. 400 BCE – 400 CE) and pre-modern computational methods in other regions, communities, and periods (ca. 400–1500 CE).
Topics of discussion:
- New approaches and results in the area of table cracking and reconstruction of algorithms
- Interpreting a multiplicity of predictive methods
- Accuracy and efficiency of astronomical computation
- Predictive toolboxes
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Astronomical tables: notations, layout, non-textual features, material features
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Thursday 11 April 2024 |
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09:30 - 09:45 |
Introduction |
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09:45 - 10:30 |
Alexander Jones (New York University) |
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“Greco-Egyptian Sign-Entry Almanacs Beyond Van der Waerden: Questions of Accuracy and Derivation” |
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10:30 - 11:00 |
Break |
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11:00 - 11:45 |
John Steele (Brown University) |
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“Calculating the Lunar Six: Evidence from Practice” |
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11:45 - 12:30 |
Lis Brack-Bernsen (Universität Regensburg) |
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“The Usefulness of Computer Simulated Lunar Data” |
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12:30 - 14:00 |
Lunch |
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14:00 - 14:45 |
Thomas Peeters (Freie Universität Berlin - ZODIAC) |
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“Accuracy of Ancient Jupiter Tables Across Time and Place” |
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14:45 - 15:30 |
Marc Chapuis (Brown University) |
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“Computational Analysis of Chinese Astronomical Systems: Work-in-progress on Yixing's Great Expansion System” |
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15:30 - 16:00 |
Break |
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16:00 - 16:45 |
Rob van Gent (Universiteit Utrecht) |
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„Predicting Eclipses in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Period” |
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16:45 - 17:30 |
Christián Carman (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes) |
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“What Can We Learn from a Two-Page Manuscript of Tycho Brahe Full of Calculations?” |
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17:30 |
Reception at ZODIAC (Arnimallee 10) |
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Friday 12 April 2024 |
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09:30 - 10:15 |
Sajjad Nikfahm-Khubravan |
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“The Empirical Foundation of Ptolemy’s Oscillating Eccentrics in the Almagest” |
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10:15 - 11:00 |
Benno van Dalen (Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften) |
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“Calculation of the Equations of Mercury in al-Ṭūsī’s Recension of the Almagest” |
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11:00 - 11:30 |
Break |
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11:30 - 12:15 |
Richard Kremer (Dartmouth College) |
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“An Alfonsine Astrologer’s Toolbox, or Computing Ephemerides 1442-73 in Paris, BnF lat. 7301” |
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12:15 - 13:00 |
Matthieu Husson (Université Paris Sciences et Lettres) |
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“Probatio operationis, Alfonsine Astronomers' Views on Accuracy and the Epistemological Values of Computation” |
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13:00 - 14:30 |
Lunch |
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14:30 - 15:15 |
Teije de Jong (Universiteit van Amsterdam) |
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“Tablet U 98: The remains of an Interesting Jupiter system B Ephemeris from Uruk” |
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15:15 - 16:00 |
Mathieu Ossendrijver (Freie Universität Berlin - ZODIAC) |
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“A Close Look at the Babylonian Jupiter tables” |
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16:00 - 16:30 |
Break |
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16:30 - 17:15 |
Anuj Misra (Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte Berlin; Freie Universität Berlin) |
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“Tabulating the Heavens: Astronomical Tables in Sanskrit” |
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17:15 - 17:30 |
Closing remarks |
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17:30 |
Reception at ZODIAC (Arnimallee 10) |
Since places may be limited, we ask anyone interested in attending to RSVP before 1 April by writing to zodiac@geschkult.fu-berlin.de and providing your full name, country of residence, and affilation (if any), and indicate whether you want to attend in person or remotely.