Taqi al-Din's Observatory

Overview

In 1577 the Ottoman astronomer Taqi al-Din opened a state-funded observatory in Istanbul rivaling the best in Europe. From its towers he observed the Great Comet, made tables of stellar positions, and refined Islamic astronomical instruments — though the observatory was demolished a few years later.

Historical Context

Sixteenth-century Islamic science continued a long tradition that fed European astronomy. Taqi al-Din's instruments paralleled those of Tycho Brahe, who watched the same comet from Denmark.

What to Notice

• Brass quadrants and armillary spheres.
• Astronomers in turbans recording observations on paper.
• A tailed comet visible above the city skyline.