At the same time, Al-Khwarizmi was busy in search of knowledge of mathematics; Ibn-Sina in medical as well as philosophy; Al-Hakim had set up Dar-al-Hikmah, Abbasids had set up a research institute called Baytal-Hikma; Jabir ibn-Hayyan became first chemist who had produced sulphuric acid; Al-Zahrawi recognized himself 'Father of Modern Surgery'; and, Al-Zarqavi invented astrolabe [historical astronomical instrument]!

Within this wreck off the coast of Oman were two items that would enter the history books: Mearns and his team found a ship's bell and an astrolabe -- a device used by sailors to plot the directions of their voyages -- which were later confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the oldest of their kind currently in existence.

The astrolabe is an invention that emerged from Hellenistic civilization between 220 and 150 BC.

The earliest known mariner's astrolabe, which was picked up by a research team from the sea bed off Halaniyat Island in Oman's Kuriya Muriya bay five years ago, has now entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest recovered astrolabe to date.

It is an abstract outline of the form and function of the astrolabe, which was used for navigational purposes.

Exhibits include an Astrolabe, which is an instrument used to measure altitude above the horizon by 10th Century navigators and astronomers, and a compass used by 15th Century Arab cartographer Ahmad Bin Majid.

He drew his inspiration from the oldest Islamic astrolabe in the world which is part of MIA's collection.

Othoniel drew inspiration for the three-year project from an artefact found in the collection of the I M Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha -- the oldest Islamic astrolabe in the world.

Space Summer School participants were also provided an opportunity to explore Planetarium, Aircraft Technology, CanSat Satellite development, water rocket and Quad- copter Design and Fabrication along with Astrolabe and Telescopy.

It is to note that Hamadeh received two honorary doctorates from Bayazid University in Ankara and the International Astrolabe University in Istanbul.

Research on the Isle aux Morts shipwreck (CjBs-1) began in 1981 with the discovery of an astrolabe by local recreational diver Wayne Mushrow, leading to two years of research headed by the Newfoundland Marine Archaeology Society (NMAS).

Dr Hogendijk is part of a Dutch team from the department of mathematics, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, that travels far and wide to educate people about the historical significance of the astrolabe, its uses and the general history of astronomy in mediaeval Islamic civilisation.