Ulugh Beg, a grandson of Tamerlane and a Timurid sultan in his own right, was one of the great astronomers and mathematicians of ancient times. From the MIR brochure:
"The astronomer-king was fascinated by the stars and the cosmos, and built one of the most advanced observatories of the ancient world. The observations, which he undertook with the naked eye only, predated the telescope by over 150 years. They were aided by the building itself, which housed a large, vertical half-circle, only a quarter of which remains today. By using careful methods, rigorous observation and meticulous recording, Ulug Bek calculated the length of the year to within a minute of the modern accepted value. He also created the most comprehensive (to that date) catalog of the heavens, earning his place in history."
A visit to the observatory was fascinating.
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