Preserving Islamic Golden Age Astronomy for Eternity
Seven centuries of scientific brilliance.
Thousands of precious manuscripts.
One lunar archive that will outlast civilizations
and inspire generations across the Islamic world and beyond.
The project intends to help revive the Islamic Golden Age in contemporary living memory and place its most important manuscripts in secure lunar storage. We will collect and authenticate dispersed manuscripts, then engrave them at ultra-high fidelity and position this singular archive on the lunar surface, where it is expected to endure for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years.
The act will itself become a public milestone, aligning culture and science under Gulf Arab States leadership and inviting a new generation to study, make, and explore.
The Vision
The Heritage
Seven centuries of scientific brilliance that laid the foundations for modern mathematics, astronomy, and space exploration—a legacy that Copernicus himself acknowledged and built upon.
"Nothing should be dearer to the seeker of truth than truth itself."
— Al-Kindi, 9th century Islamic philosopher and mathematician
The Mission
A precision lunar deployment that will preserve Islamic astronomical heritage for millennia
On a lunar day sometime at the end of this decade, a precision lander will touch down on the Moon's surface carrying humanity's most precious astronomical manuscripts—miniaturized, preserved, and protected for geological time. This moment will mark not just the preservation of knowledge, but the birth of humanity's first extraterrestrial library.
Leadership
Michael Benson
Project Founder & Director
Michael Benson is among the world's leading authorities on the visual legacy of space exploration and astronomy. His unique combination of artistic vision, scientific rigor, and cultural insight makes him uniquely qualified to lead the Qamar Codex mission—bridging Islamic astronomical heritage with cutting-edge space preservation technology.
A distinguished advisory panel of experts on the history of science in the Middle East will be formed. Details to come.
Dr. James Green
Project Advisor, former NASA Chief Scientist
A genuine pioneer in the history of robotic space flight, Dr James Green was NASA’s Chief Scientist from 2018 until 2022. He previously served as Director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division from 2006-2018, where he managed and served as the chief spokesman for all of NASA’s planetary missions.
The Archive Quest
A global expedition to locate, preserve and digitize some of humanity’s most precious astronomical manuscripts for long-term safekeeping on the Earth and on the Moon.
Scattered across continents, sometimes showcased in gleaming new museums and libraries, other times hidden away in obscure archives and private collections, approximately 10,000 manuscripts from the Islamic Golden Age await discovery and preservation. Each represents centuries of astronomical genius—mathematical breakthroughs, observational precision, and cosmic insights that changed human understanding forever.
Technology
Advanced preservation techniques will transform ancient manuscripts into virtually indestructible lunar artifacts
The Qamar Codex project will employ cutting-edge materials science and precision engineering to create artifacts that may even survive longer than human civilization itself. Using revolutionary lithographic techniques and space-grade materials, we will transform fragile ancient manuscripts into virtually indestructible time capsules.
Impact & Legacy
Meaningful contributions to education, scholarship, and the preservation of human knowledge
The Qamar Codex represents more than technological achievement—it offers a unique opportunity to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of Islamic astronomy to human understanding of the cosmos. By preserving these manuscripts on the lunar surface, we will create both a lasting archive and a compelling educational story for young people alive today.
