Ulugh Beg

Known for

Samarkand observatory and one of the most accurate star catalogues before the telescope

Biography

Timurid ruler of Samarkand and grandson of Timur, who was more devoted to astronomy than to governing.

Contributions

• Built a great observatory in Samarkand in the 1420s with a huge meridian arc instrument
• Produced a star catalogue of about 1,000 stars
• Measured the length of the year with high accuracy

Major works

• Zij-i Sultani