Toshkent astronomiya muzeyi

Tashkent Astronomy Museum – It is considered the first astronomy museum established in the whole Central Asia. It was founded in 2009 at the base of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute. The opening of this museum was announced by the UN in 2009. Also, the founding of this museum is related to the 615th anniversary of the birth of Uzbekistan’s eminent astronomer Ulugh Beg.

The new exhibition of the Astronomy Museum was carried out with the help of UNESCO and leaves a good impression on visiting travelers. The main noteworthy feature of the Ulugh Beg Observatory is the model of a meridian quadrant. In it, student‑learners can see the astronomical observations conducted at the Ulugh Beg Observatory. The museum has a model of the “Ziji‑Koʻragoniy” tables of the astronomer, with the coordinates of 1018 stars determined.

The history of the emergence of the science of astronomy, which contributed to world scientific development, occupies sections of this museum. Among the other unique items of the museum is a telescope of the English master James Short, who lived in the 18th century. This instrument was invented by the famous physicist Isaac Newton.

Antique enthusiasts will be attracted by the marine chronometer invented by the 18th‑century London watchmaker Garrison. For this invention, the watchmaker was awarded a prize by the English Parliament at the suggestion of Newton.

Also, the museum exhibition includes an 18th‑century Almon telescope, a French telescope from the late 19th to early 20th century, and a sky globe of Muhammad Sharif Bukhari from the 19th century.

During 1936-1939 the Pacific Ocean Astronomical Society and the Academy of Sciences of the country presented nominal medals for the discovery of two comets by the Tashkent astronomer Stefan Kozikka, which occupied a place among the museum exhibition items.

In this museum there are portraits of the great astronomers of all times, pictures of stars and planets, and, in addition, the main scientific basis of the Institute of Astronomy – the Maydanak observatory and the Book station.

Uzbek astronomers together with American and German astronomers are carrying out a world‑famous work: research is being conducted at the largest observatories in the world, including the Maydanak observatory located 120 kilometres south of Samarkand.