Ali Qushji

Ala alDn Ali ibn Muhammed , known as Ali Qushji was an astronomer, mathematician and physicist originally from Samarkand, who settled in the Ottoman Empire some time before 1472. As a disciple of Ulugh Beg, he is best known for the development of astronomical physics independent from natural philosophy, and for providing empirical evidence for the Earths rotation in his treatise, Concerning the Supposed Dependence of Astronomy upon Philosophy. In addition to his contributions to Ulugh Begs famous work ZijiSultani and to the founding of Sahn Seman Medrese, one of the first centers for the study of various traditional Islamic sciences in the Ottoman caliphate, Ali Kuu was also the author of several scientific works and textbooks on astronomy.

Ali Kuu was born in 1403 in the city of Samarkand, in presentday Uzbekistan. His full name at birth was Ala alDn Ali ibn Muhammed alQushji. The last name Qushji derived from the Turkish term kuufalconerdue to the fact that Alis father Muhammad was the royal falconer of Ulugh Beg. Sources consider him Turkic or Persian.

Source: Wikipedia