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Ulughbek's observatory

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Ouzbékistan (Asie et pacifique)

Date de soumission : 01/06/1996
Critères: (i)(iii)
Catégorie : Culturel
Soumission préparée par :
Ministry of Cultural Affairs - Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Coordonnées
Samarkand region Long. 67° East Lat. 39°34' North
Ref.: 818

Description

The observatory was built up on the hill of Gali-Rasad which is situated at the northern part of Samarkand and 2 kilometres away from the city. The construction was finished in 1428 - 1429. Muhammad Taragai Ulughbek was the founder of this observatory, who was famous scientist and astronomer and grandson of Timur. The building was circle-shaped with 48 metres in diameter and had three floors. The axis of the construction were strictly directed to all world's parts according with Samarkand's meridian. The building with giant sextant "Fakhri" divides the building into the two parts and equipollent parts. The arc of sextant was half in the hill and half—rose at the opposite southern side of the hill. The sextant was used for the moon and sun observations. At the east—western axis "Itidal" (sun—dial) was installed and the shadow from the sextant's sides was indicating the time. The space between these two main monuments played the role of giant astrolabe "Ustovani" which was situated at the second and the third floors of the observatory. Observations on stars and planets were organized from that point. Several additional astrolabes and other instruments were located on the top of the walls and on the sextant's floor. The definite façade's shape of the building is not estimated. There are only some probable options with smooth wall of the first floor.