Istanbul University Observatory

Have you ever wondered what secrets the stars hold? At the Istanbul University Observatory, those secrets were once pursued nightly. The Istanbul University Observatory stands as a testament to Turkey’s early embrace of modern astronomy. Established in 1936, it’s nestled beside the historic Beyazıt Tower, right here on the Istanbul University campus. This observatory holds a special place in Turkish scientific history, marking the nation’s first modern foray into the cosmos. The observatory building, with its distinctive dome, was designed by Arif Hikmet Holtay and constructed remarkably quickly, in just six months. Its construction was overseen by Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi. The heart of the observatory, its primary astrograph, was a masterpiece ordered from Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany. Arriving in twelve separate pieces, the astrograph was meticulously assembled within the dome, allowing the observatory to begin its celestial observations in the fall of 1936. The Istanbul University Observatory housed a variety of instruments, including a 30 cm astrograph with a focal length of 150 cm. This was used to capture detailed images of the night sky. They also had specialized solar telescopes. A 13 cm photosphere telescope allowed for observation of sunspots and plage areas. A 12 cm chromosphere telescope, paired with a monochromator and camera, was used to study the intricacies of the Sun’s chromosphere. A smaller 7 cm pilot telescope aided in guiding the larger instruments. Sadly, the growth of Istanbul and the resulting light pollution eventually made serious night observations impossible from this location. However, the observatory’s legacy continues. The department established a new observatory at the Onsekiz Mart University in Çanakkale in 2002, where the skies are darker and clearer. Though no longer actively used for research, the Istanbul University Observatory remains a fascinating landmark. It serves as a reminder of a time when the mysteries of the universe were explored from right here, in the heart of Istanbul.