Ilm al-Falak · Astronomical Precision · Celestial Qibla
Islamic Astrolabe & Celestial Compass
A WebGL 3D simulator of the classical brass astrolabe (Al-Asturlāb). Calculate solar altitude curves (Al-Muqantarāt), prayer angles (Mawāqīt as-Ṣalāh), and real-time Great-Circle Qibla azimuth from device motion and geographic coordinates.
Celestial Compass
True-North Qibla Bearing
Kaaba, Makkah
21.4225° N, 39.8262° E
-15.96°
Day 307 of Year
Location & Time Simulation
Mawāqīt as-Ṣalāh (Prayer Arc Formulae)
Calculated Solar Altitude Angles
Astronomical Heritage
Anatomy of the Classical Islamic Astrolabe
1. Al-Umm / The Mater
The heavy brass baseplate with a raised outer rim (Al-Hujrah) calibrated in 360 degrees and 24 temporal hours. It holds the interchangeable plates (As-Safa'ih) tailored to specific latitudes.
2. Ash-Shabakah / The Rete
The pierced openwork brass cutout rotating around the central axis pin (Al-Qutb). It maps fixed celestial stars and the off-center zodiac ring (Mintaqat al-Buruj) showing the ecliptic path of the Sun.
3. Al-Muqantarāt / Altitude Arcs
Stereographic projections of celestial coordinates engraved onto the plate. Used by classical astronomers like Al-Biruni and Al-Khwarizmi to calculate prayer schedules and exact Qibla vectors anywhere in the world.