Astronomy in Iran

This paper summarizes the present situation concerning astronomy in Iran. Shiraz University introduced astronomy in the mid-1960s and established the Biruni Observatory. Astronomy is also carried out at Tabriz University and in Meshed, Zanjan, Tehran, Babol and other places. The Astronomical Society of Iran is flourishing, and is about 30 years old. Site-testing is underway for a National Observatory of Iran, which will be equipped with a 2-m class optical telescope. Iran publishes Nojum, the only astronomical monthly magazine of the Middle East, which is presently in its fifteenth year.