Saturday 25 May 2013

Ulug Beg

Timur's grandson (1394 to 1449) was a patron of science and published values for key astronomical constants (inclination of the ecliptic and tropical year) which were the most accurate of the time. His Zij (star atlas) included 1,018 stars. Over 200 not previously recorded.

Murdered by religious conservatives, his mighty observatory was torn down but has recently been excavated. The enormous quadrant cuts deep into the earth.

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