Science·Later empires
Maragheh Observatory Founded Under Hulagu
- Date
- 1259 CE657 AH767 years ago
- Place
- Maragheh, Ilkhanid Persia
- People
- Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Hulagu Khan
The Maragheh observatory was founded in 1259 in northwestern Iran under the Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi directed the project. It had large instruments, a library and a team of astronomers from several regions. Its main output was the Zij-i Ilkhani, a set of astronomical tables that were widely used afterward.
Why it matters
Its astronomical tables influenced later observatories, including the one built by Ulugh Beg in Samarkand.