Category of Astronomical Heritage: tangible immovable
Istanbul University Observatory, Turkey

Description

Geographical position

Istanbul University Observatory, Astronomy and Space Sciences Department, Istanbul, Turkey

Location

Latitude 41°00’45’’N, Longitude 28°57’56’’E, Elevation ...m above mean sea level.

IAU observatory code

080

Description of (scientific/cultural/natural) heritage

Fig. 1. Istanbul University Observatory, model (Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

The Istanbul University Observatory is next to the historic Beyaz─▒t Tower within the main campus of the university at Beyaz─▒t Square in Fatih district of Istanbul.

Fig. 2a. Beyaz─▒t Tower of the main campus of Istanbul University (Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Fig. 2b. Istanbul University Observatory (1935/36) (Wikipedia 4, CeeGee)

The astronomer Erwin Finlay-Freundlich (1885--1964), who organized the Einstein Tower in Potsdam, was invited to become director of the Department of Astronomy and to erect an observatory. It was constructed by Ekrem Hakk─▒ Ayverdi (1899--1984) (1935/36) -- influenced by Bauhaus style -- a very nice building.

Fig. 3a. Dome of Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Andreas Schrimpf)

Fig. 3b. Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Andreas Schrimpf)

History

Fig. 4a. Telescopes of Istanbul University Observatory(Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Fig. 4b. Telescopes of Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Instruments / Telescopes

30-cm-Astrograph (f=150cm, f/5), Carl Zeiss of Jena (1935)
13-cm-Photosphere telescope (f=200cm, f/15) for the observation of Sun spots and plage areas
12-cm-Chromosphere telescope (f=232cm, f/19) used with a monochromator (H-α Lyot filter) and a camera in the focal plane
7-cm-Pilot telescope (f=80cm, f/13)

Fig. 5a. Apparatur for guiding the Telescope of Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Fig. 5b. Zeiss logo (Photo: Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

State of preservation

Fig. 6. Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Andreas Schrimpf)

The observatory is preserved well, impressive architecture -- Bauhaus style.
Also the telescopes are in good condition.

Comparison with related/similar sites

Cf. Dresden, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia (also Bauhaus style).

Threats or potential threats

no threats

Present use

The Observatory is still used by astronomers, but observing in the city center is difficult.

Fig. 7a. Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Andreas Schrimpf)

Fig. 7b. Istanbul University Observatory (Photo: Andreas Schrimpf)

Astronomical relevance today

An observatory at the ├çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University was built in 2002: the ├çOMÜ Ulup─▒nar Observatory (UPO) -- in a height of 410m far away from the city, providing much better observing conditions.

Fig. 8. ├çOMÜ Ulup─▒nar Observatory (UPO) (2002), ├çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Wikipedia 4, Balabinrm)

References

Bibliography (books and published articles)

Bolt, M.; Hockey, T.; Palmeri, J.A.; Trimble, V.; Williams, T.R.; Bracher, K.; Jarrell, R.; Marché, J.D.; Ragep, F.J.: Fatin Gökmen. In: Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. New York: Springer 2007, p. 427.
Hockey, Thomas et al. (eds.): Salih Zeki. In: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. Springer Reference. New York: Springer 2007, pp. 1007--1008 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30400-7_1211).
Ihsano&gcaron;lu, Ekmeleddin: Ottoman Educational and Scholarly-Scientific Institutions. In: History of the Ottoman State, Society and Civilisation, vol. 2. Ed. Ekmeleddin d{I}hsanov{g}lu. Istanbul: IRCICA 2002, p. 361--512.
Ihsano&gcaron;lu, Ekmeleddin: The Introduction of Western Science to the Ottoman World: A Case Study of Modern Astronomy (1660--1860). In: Science, technology and learning in the Ottoman Empire: Western influence, local institutions, and the transfer of knowledge. Ed. by Ihsanoglu, E.; Aldershot, Hants, England; Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company (Variorum Collected Studies) 2004.
Sayili, Aydin: The Observatory in Islam. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu 1991, p. 289-305.
Sayili, Aydin: Alauddin Mansur’un Istanbul Rasathânesi Hakkindaki Siirleri. In: Belleten 20 (1956), no. 79, p. 414, 466.