The founder of the observatory, Muhammad Taragai Ulugbek, grandson of Temur (Tamerlan), was born in 1394, he showed great abilities and interest in mathematics from childhood.
The result of his scientific works are the so-called “New Astronomical Tables” containing an exposition of the theoretical foundations of astronomy and the coordinates of over 1000 stars.
Ulugbek’s scientific works were created thanks to a unique observatory that he erected in Samarkand. The construction took about three years. By the autumn of 1420 (according to other sources — by 1428-1429), the observatory building was ready.
The installation and reconciliation of instruments has begun. At the request of Ulugbek, the astronomer and brilliant mathematician from Kashan, Jamshid al-Kashi (1373-1430), was engaged in this.
Sometimes it is written that after the murder of Ulugbek in 1449, the observatory ceased to exist, and its building was destroyed by religious fanatics. Recent studies have shown that this is not the case. After Ulugbek, the observatory continued to work for 20 years.
