Ulugh Beg Observatory

Photo

by Michel Benoist

/ CC BY 2.5

The Ulugh Beg Observatory, located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is one of the most significant historical astronomical observatories in the world. Built in the early 15th century by the Timurid ruler and noted astronomer Ulugh Beg, it was a monumental center for astronomical studies. The observatory housed an enormous sextant, which was used to measure the positions of celestial bodies with remarkable accuracy for its time. Ulugh Beg's work at the observatory led to the creation of the Zij-i-Sultani, a comprehensive star catalog that listed over a thousand stars.

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