Kitab Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Near the town of Kitab in Uzbekistan — long known for its medieval reputation as a "town of astronomers" — Kitab Observatory carries that legacy into the present day.
About Kitab Observatory
Kitab Observatory sits at an elevation of 650 metres and was built during the Soviet period, deliberately invoking the town's historical association with astronomy. By the early 1990s it had become part of the Mirzo Ulugbek Astronomical Institute under the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences.
Telescopes & research
The observatory belongs to the Kitab network of research stations and forms part of the larger Kitab High Altitude Astronomical Observatory Complex, which also includes the well-known Maidanak Observatory.
Location & getting there
Kitab Observatory is located in Kitab, Uzbekistan, in the Asia region, at 650 metres above sea level.
Visiting Kitab Observatory
Check the observatory's website, astrin.uzsci.net, for current information on visiting before planning a trip.
See your named star from here
A town that has called itself home to astronomers for centuries is a fitting place to think about the stars overhead. Name a star with Star Register and find its coordinates in our star catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
