Looking At The Kamenskoe Plateau Observatory In Almaty

Sometimes the Soviets were interested in more than staring at the West. Way up on a hill (of course) sits a cute series of small observatories. The complex was founded in 1947, as part of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute.

One of the domed observatories. There are more observatories dotting the hill. Sprouting watchers.

Stepping inside. The base of a telescope is anchored through the floor. Up a flight, the Big Boy presents itself. Let's get cranking.

OK, just a minute to hand crank the old school, classic, wood slat dome.

In the base of one of the observatories is a makeshift gallery with a display of cool, old instruments. Looking a little Soviet 70's retro. Tuning into VOA when the boss isn't looking, no doubt.

Winter bliss on top of the mountain. A painting in the lobby of the institute.

Looking At The Ulugh Beg Observatory In Samarkand

Mirzo Ulugh Beg was a famous astronomer and mathematician in Uzbekistan who did his ground-breaking work in the early 15th century. Many of his discoveries and calculations were not matched in the West until almost 100 years later.

Ulugh Beg built an observatory in Samarkand, a building that featured a large arc apparatus, called a quadrant principle device. Sounds complicated.

There's now a museum devoted to the work of Ulugh Beg at the archeological site of the arc.

The museum has a wide variety of astronomy buff gear, from measuring devices to star notes.

The famous quadrant principle device. The only section still intact is this underground piece, buried and preserved long after the building above it was left to ruin.

Now, the arc section is restored and housed in a throwback madrasa-resembling cover. The reverse view of the arc.

The man, the mathematician, the astronomer, the legend. He gets the big sculpture treatment all over Uzbekistan.