Battani was a famous astronomer, mathematician and astrologer. He has been held as one of the greatest astronomists of Islam. He is responsible for a number of important discoveries in astronomy, which was the result of a long career of 42 years of research beginning at Raqqa when he was young. His well-known discovery is the remarkably accurate determination of the solar year as being 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds, which is very close to the latest estimates. He found that the longitude of the sun's apogee had increased by 16°, 47' since Ptolemy. This implied the important discovery of the motion of the solar apsides and of a slow variation in the equation of time. He did not believe in the trapidation of the equinoxes, although Copernicus held it.

Al-Battani determined with remarkable accuracy the obliquity of the ecliptic, the length of the seasons and the true and mean orbit of the sun. He proved, in sharp contrast to Ptolemy, the variation of the apparent angular diameter of the sun and the possibility of annular eclipses. He rectified several orbits of the moon and the planets and propounded a new and very ingenious theory to determine the conditions of visibility of the new moon. His excellent observations of lunar and solar eclipses were used by Dunthorne in 1749 to determine the secular acceleration of motion of the moon. He also provided very neat solutions by means of orthographic projection for some problems of spherical trigonometry.

In mathematics, he was the first to replace the use of Greek chords by sines, with a clear understanding of their superiority. He also developed the concept of cotangent and furnished their table in degrees.

He wrote a number of books on astronomy and trigonometry. His most famous book was his astronomical treatise with tables, which was translated into Latin in the 12th century and flourished as De scienta stellerum — De numeris stellerum et motibus. An old translation of this is available of the Vatican. His Zij was, in fact, more accurate than all others written by that time.

His treatise on astronomy was extremely influential in Europe till the Renaissance, with translations available in several languages. His original discoveries both in astronomy and trigonometry were of great consequence in the development of these sciences.

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A Pakistani Taliban commander battling government forces in the country's Bajaur tribal region has announced a truce.

North Korea has said it is preparing to launch a "satellite" into space, a term analysts say could be code for a test-launch of its longest range missile.

Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have locked horns, with accusations of spying for Israel and trying to derail inter-factional talks.

President Kgalema Mothlante will address Lenasia residents at an open meeting at the Ghandhi Hall in Extension 5.

The Muslim Judicial Council has condemned what it calls blasphemous cartoons that have appeared in a university magazine in Cape Town.

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THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO PERSONAL HYGIENE

Method
Heat oil in large pot and then add onions and sauté until golden. Add meat, ginger and garlic and sauté for 20 mins add water if necessary. Add all spices and tomato and cook till soft, lastly add yoghurt and fresh coriander. Cook for a further 10 mins until sauce is reduced.

The Rice
Boli 4 cups rice with 2 sticks cinnamon, 3 cloves, 3 all spice berries, 3 cardamom pods, 60ml oil, 20ml salt in 2 liters water until rice is ¾ done. Rice must not be very soft. Drain.

To Assemble
Using a pyrex, place a layer of rice at the bottom, then a layer of meat sauce, followed by potatoes, lentils and fried onions. Repeat the process until all rice and meat is used ending off with rice. Sprinkle the top with saffron water, melted butter, lentils and onions. Cover with foil and place in the oven and allow to steam until heated through.

Serve with dhai, onion salad, and/or atchar.

If person is very hungry and the food is already prepared, he should partake of his meal first and then offer his Salaah. It is Makruh to offer Salaah without eating. But if there is very little time left, he should offer his Salaah first.

~ BEHISHTI ZEWAR ~

"When you come to the edge of all the light that you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen; there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly."

~ Barbara Winters ~

THE TACTICAL WIFE
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A tactical wife is one who makes sure she spends so much on herself that her husband can't afford another woman.