A journey through history: Astronomical voyage at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum offers its visitors the opportunity for an astronomical voyage with its rich collection. The museum's collection, which includes important observation and measurement instruments such as a 14th-century celestial globe and a 19th-century transit telescope, sheds light on the history of science.

Among the exhibited objects are astronomical tools such as an 18th-century cross-staff, 19th-century sextants, octants, solar system models, telescopes, and various binoculars. Some of the objects that can be seen in the Mustafa V. Koç Building are as follows:

Celestial Globe: Made between 1383 and 1384 by Cafer İbn-i Ömer İbn Devletşah el-Kırmani, this globe is one of the oldest known celestial globes. On the 14-centimeter-diameter celestial globe, the shapes of the constellations, which contain approximately 1,025 stars, are indicated by silver dots inlaid at the center of each.

Astrolabe: An Ottoman-Turkish astrolabe made in 1671 by Alî al-Za’tarî. Astrolabes are used to determine the positions of celestial bodies. They also determine the time by utilizing pre-calculated position charts of the Sun and stars. In medieval Islamic countries, astrolabes were also used in daily life to determine prayer times.

Rub’u Tahtası (Quadrant): The Ottoman-Turkish quadrant made of wood in 1866 features rich floral decorations. Signed with the name "İbrahim," this quadrant is used to measure the altitude of a celestial body (the angular distance between it and the horizon). The altitude of an object is measured by looking at that object along the edge of a quadrant (a quarter circle) and reading the angle it makes with the vertical line (plumb line).

Transit Telescope: This Starke and Kammerer brand transit telescope was produced in Austria between 1871 and 1881. These telescopes utilize the Earth's rotation on its own axis to bring objects into the field of view.

ASTRONOMY WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS

The Planetarium / Discovery Sphere, which joined the museum's educational projects in 2009, provides a virtual, immersive experience of the universe's formation process and the state of the world 65 million years ago. The Discovery Sphere, which has a capacity of 40 people and is aimed at school groups, takes visitors on a journey toward other galaxies with Einstein's space elevator.

It also offers the opportunity to explore the Solar System and the mystery of Saturn's rings with the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft. The Discovery Sphere presents shows within a very broad framework, from astronomy to art, and from education to technology.

After watching the film about the climate crisis, which is the greatest threat of our time, visitors can also participate in the "Climate Change Awareness Workshop."

The Magic Sphere at the historic Hasköy Shipyard also provides detailed information to enthusiasts about the Solar System by allowing the Sun and planets to be seen in three dimensions.