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The Istanbul Observatory
Taqī al-Dīn was both the founder and director of the Istanbul Observatory, which is also known as the Constantinople Observatory. This observatory is frequently said to be one of Taqī al-Dīn's most important contributions to sixteenth century Islamic and Ottoman astronomy. In fact, it is known as one of the largest observatories in Islamic history. It is often compared to Tycho Brahe’s Uraniborg Observatory, which was said to have been the home to the best instruments of his time in Europe. As a matter of fact, Brahe and Taqī al-Dīn have frequently been compared for their work in sixteenth century astronomy. The founding of the Istanbul Observatory began when Taqī al-Dīn returned to Istanbul in 1570, after spending 20 years in Egypt developing his astronomy and mathematical knowledge. Shortly after his return, Sultan Selīm II appointed Taqiī al-Dīn as the head astronomer (Müneccimbast), following the death of the previous head astronomer Muṣṭafā ibn ҁAlī al-Muwaqqit in 1571. During the early years of his position as head astronomer, Taqī al-Dīn worked in both the Galata Tower and a building overlooking Tophane. While working in these buildings, he began to gain the support and trust of many important Turkish officials. These newfound relationships lead to an imperial edict in 1579 from Sultan Murad III, which called for the construction of the Constantinople Observatory. This observatory became home to many important books and instruments, as well as many renowned scholars of the time. While there is not much known of the architectural characteristics of the building, there is much documentation of depictions of the scholars and astronomical instruments present in the observatory. However, due to political conflict, this observatory was short lived. In fact, it was entirely demolished by the state on 22 January 1580, only 11 short years after the imperial edict for it's construction.

Inventions and Instruments of the Observatory
While working in this observatory, Taqī al-Dīn not only operated many previously created instruments and techniques, but he also developed numerous new ones. Of these novel inventions, the automatic-mechanical clock is regarded as one of the most important developed in the Istanbul Observatory.

I. Instruments Originally Constructed by Ptolemy and used in the Istanbul Observatory


 * The armillary sphere
 * The triquetrum
 * The astrolabe

'''II. Instruments Used and Invented by Taqī al-Dīn'''


 * mushabbaha bi'l manāṭiq: this invention is a sextant, which is an instrument with cords used for the determination of the equinoxes. This instrument is also said to be an important invention of Tycho Brahe.
 * A mural quadrant and an azimuthally quadrant
 * Various observational clocks for the measurement of the right ascensions of the stars. These clocks are regarded as one of the most important discoveries in the practical astronomy field during the sixteenth century, as clocks prior to these were not accurate enough for astronomical purposes.

Astronomy

 * Sidrat muntahā al-afkār fī malakūt al-falak al-dawwār (al-Zīj al-Shāhinshāhī): this is said to be one of Taqī al-Dīn’s most important works in astronomy.  He completed this book on the basis of his observations in both Egypt and Istanbul. The purpose of this work was to improve, correct, and ultimately complete Zīj-i Ulugh Beg, which was a project devised in Egypt and furthered in the Istanbul Observatory. The first 40 pages of his writing focus on trigonometric calculations, with emphasis on trigonometric functions such sine, cosine, tangent, and cotangent.
 * Jarīdat al-durar wa kharīdat al-fikar is a zīj that is said to be Taqī al-Dīn’s second most important work in astronomy. This zīj contains the first recorded use of decimal fractions and trigonometric functions. He also gives the parts of degree of curves and angles in decimal fractions with precise calculations.
 * Dustūr al-tarjīḥ li-qawā ҁ id al-tasṭīḥ is another important work by Taqī al-Dīn, which focuses on the projection of a sphere into a plane, among other geometric topics.
 * Taqī al-Din is also accredited as the author of Rayḥānat al-rūḥ fī rasm al-sā ҁ āt ҁ alā mustawī al-suṭūḥ, which discusses sundials and their characteristics drawn on marble surface.

Clocks and Mechanics

 * al-Kawākib al-durriyya fī waḍ ҁ al-bankāmāt al-dawriyya was written by Taqī al-Dīn in 1559 and addressed mechanical-automatic clocks. This work is considered the first written work on mechanical-automatic clocks in the Islamic and Ottoman world. In this book, he accredits Alī Pasha as a contributor for allowing him to use and study his private library and collection of European mechanical clocks.
 * al-Ṭuruq al-saniyya fī al-ālāt al-rūḥāniyya is a second book on mechanics by Taqī al-Dīn that emphasizes the geometrical-mechanical structure of clocks, which was a topic previously observed and studied by Banū Mūsā and Ismail al-Jazari (Abū al-ҁIzz al-Jazarī).

Physics and Optics

 * Nawr ḥadīqat al-abṣar wa-nūr ḥaqīqat al-Anẓar was a work of Taqī al-Dīn that discussed physics and optics. This book discussed the structure of light, the relationship between light and color, as well as diffusion and global refraction.