Survey of the Almagest

• - Forward to the revised edition.- Preface.- The almagest through the ages.- Physics and philosophy in the almagest.- Ptolemy as a mathematician.- Spherical astronomy in the almagest.- The motion of the sun.- The theories of the moon.- Parallaxes and eclipses.- The fixed stars.- The superior planets.- The inferior planets.- Retrograde motions and maximum elongations.- Latitudes and visibility periods.- Epilogue-the other ptolemy.- Apendix A: dated observations.- Appendix B: numerical parameters.- Bibliography.- Index of names.- Index of subjects.- Supplementary notes.- Supplementary bibliography.

From the book reviews:“The book is a guide to reading through the details of Ptolemy’s argument, while keeping a clear focus on the astronomical and mathematical concepts. … the inclusion of supplementary material makes this edition essential for anyone studying Ptolemy or the ancient and medieval traditions of mathematical astronomy that were influenced by his work.” (Nathan Sidoli, Historia Mathematica, Vol. 39, 2012)Pedersens Buch war und ist unverzichtbar, wenn man tiefer in den Almagest des Ptolemaios einsteigen will. Es ist daher dem Verlag zu danken, diesen modernen Klassiker mit wichtigen Zusätzen und Korrekturen nachgedruckt zu haben.Mathematischer Semesterbericht, September 2011Pedersen has performed his analysis with great care and technical accuracy. … [The book] is written dearly and concisely. It certainly achieves its aim of making the 'Almagest' accessible and understandable to students of the history of astronomy. G. J. Toomer, Archives Internationales d’Histoire des Sciences The organization of the 'Survey' … is done in such a brilliant style that makes the technically prohibiting text of the 'Almagest' an enjoyable reading within a clear historical perspective.  George A. Saliba, Centaurus ['A Survey of the Almagest'] is a mine of well-organized, well-documented, carefully cross-indexed information. Indeed, the general reader will find it an eye-opening introduction to Greek mathematics. Victor E. Thoren, Isis