Maragheh Observatory, 13th-century observatory ruins in Maragheh, Iran.
The observatory complex spans 400 by 150 meters on a hill, featuring a central tower and multiple circular platforms for astronomical instruments.
In 1259, Hulagu Khan ordered the construction of this observatory, appointing Persian scientist Nasir al-Din al-Tusi as its director and chief astronomer.
The facility contained a library of 400,000 volumes and operated as a scientific institute where scholars from across the Islamic world conducted astronomical research.
The observatory remains include a circular stone structure measuring 28 meters in diameter, with surviving sections of a 5.5-meter mural quadrant instrument.
The discoveries made at Maragheh Observatory influenced the development of astronomical observatories from Samarkand to Jaipur over the following four centuries.
Location: Maragheh
Inception: 1259
Founders: Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
GPS coordinates: 37.39608,46.20916
Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:06
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