Which outcome reliably indicates the precise alignment of a historical Islamic astrolabe towards Mecca using celestial observation?

💡 Explanation

Alignment towards Mecca resulted from calculating the qibla (direction), then adjusting the astrolabe until the sun’s observed altitude corresponded with the calculated values, causing the projected solar image to align above the qibla marker. Therefore the solar image indicates alignment, rather than stellar altitudes, vanes or Polaris' position, which aren't directly qibla indicators.

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