The dating of Ptolemy's Almagest based on the coverings of the stars and on lunar eclipses (Q1205160)

In the past the authors had developed a new geometrical-statistical method for dating star catalogues. Several examinations of the method according to medieval star catalogues and Tycho Brahe had proved its correctness. By means of this new method the authors now investigate special observations in Ptolemy's Almagest, as there are star coverings by planets and lunar eclipses. In Almagest Book X and XI four star coverings are reported: one by Venus, one by Mars, one by Jupiter and one by Saturn. Using the new method, these observations could only be made between 887--1009 A.D. In Almagest Book III--VI 21 lunar eclipses are reported. According to the authors' new method these observations could only be made during the time 492--1350 A.D. The most probable time interval is given as 900--1000 A.D. As a result the authors don't believe in the traditional dating of the Almagest, they think that it has to be shifted to the Arabian epoch 600--1300 A.D. This dating agrees with previous results of the authors when they had investigated Ptolemy's star catalogue. These results make no sense, it would be better to doubt the applied method than the traditional dating of Almagest.