Jacob ben Isaac Corsono facts for kids

Jacob ben Isaac al-Corsono was a Spanish astronomer who lived in the 1300s. An astronomer is a scientist who studies stars, planets, and everything else in space.

Who Was Jacob al-Corsono?

Jacob al-Corsono was also known by other names, like Carsono, Carsi, or Ibn al-Qursunuh. He was an important scholar in his time, especially known for his work with astronomical knowledge.

Translating Important Tables

King Peter IV of Aragon asked Jacob al-Corsono to translate a very important set of astronomical tables. These tables were like detailed charts that helped people understand the movements of stars and planets. They were called The Tables of Don Pedro.

The original tables were started by a master scholar named Piero Gilebert. His student, Dalmacio de Planis, finished them. Jacob al-Corsono's job was to translate these tables from Catalan into Hebrew. This made the knowledge available to more people.

Writing About the Astrolabe

Around the year 1376, al-Corsono wrote a book in Arabic about the astrolabe while he was in Seville. An astrolabe was an ancient tool used by astronomers and sailors. It helped them figure out the time of day or night, and the positions of the Sun, Moon, and stars.

He later translated this very book himself into Hebrew in 1378, when he was in Barcelona. This shows how important it was to him that his knowledge could be shared widely. Some people, like Chayyim ibn Musa, even believed al-Corsono could perform amazing feats, though these are stories from a long time ago.

See also

In Spanish: Jacob Corsino para niños