Maraqeh Observatory

Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan constructed an observatory here in the 13th century for brilliant mathematician Nasruddin Tusi (Nasir al-Tusi), who advanced Ptomely's planetary theories using his geometric Tusi couple device, later used by Copernicus. On a windswept hill 3km northwest of town, a white golf ball–like geodesic dome has been built over the ruins as protection from the elements.