Lee Observatory, Beirut

The Lee Observatory, situated on the campus of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, holds a distinguished place in the history of astronomy in the Middle East. Established in 1873, it is celebrated as the region's first modern astronomical observatory. The observatory was founded through the support of Henry Lee, a wealthy British merchant from Manchester, whose generous contributions were instrumental in its construction.

The observatory was initially led by Doctor Cornelius Van Dyck, an avid amateur astronomer who personally acquired much of the initial equipment. Under his guidance, the Lee Observatory not only served as a center for astronomical observations but also functioned as a meteorological station, playing a critical role in weather forecasting for the Middle East.

Throughout its history, the observatory has been managed by various directors and assistants who have contributed significantly to its development. Among them were Professors Mansour Jurdak and Owen Gingerich, who were pivotal in organizing public engagement events such as the "Open Nights Observatory," which helped to popularize astronomy. They also made valuable additions to the observatory's library.

A notable contributor, Saad Sami Haddad, enhanced the observatory’s role in scientific research through his meticulous documentation of sunspots, which were regularly reported to the International Sunspot Research Center in Zurich. His work included the creation of a detailed sky map documenting stars up to the 5th magnitude and conducting statistical analyses on sunspot activities, revealing important asymmetries in their occurrences.

Today, the Lee Observatory continues to serve primarily an academic role, focusing on education and research in the field of astronomy, maintaining its status as a beacon of scientific inquiry in the Middle East.