ICHB.ORG Global Presence
Your region — your language — your path to the stars
🌍 We speak to you in your language
ICHB.ORG is represented in key regions around the planet through a network of official partners. Each of them has not only translated the website and information system of the “International Catalog of Celestial Bodies,” but has adapted them for their cultural environment, so you can reach for the stars in your native language.
20+
manually translated languages
manually translated languages
170+
countries covered
countries covered
7.5+
billion people
billion people
93%
of world population
of world population
✨ Fully translated versions (manual translation by our representatives)
On these languages, the site is fully adapted by our official representatives — native speakers.
🇺🇸🇪🇺🇬🇧
USA, UK, Europe
Language: English
🌍 Countries: 59
👥 Native & Official: ~ 1.5 billion people
National / Primary Official Language:
🇺🇸 United States · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 🇮🇪 Ireland · 🇯🇲 Jamaica · 🇧🇸 Bahamas · 🇧🇧 Barbados · 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia · 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · 🇩🇲 Dominica · 🇬🇩 Grenada · 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago · 🇬🇾 Guyana · 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis · 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda · 🇧🇿 Belize
Official / Co-official Language:
🇨🇦 Canada · 🇦🇺 Australia · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 🇿🇦 South Africa · 🇮🇳 India · 🇵🇰 Pakistan · 🇳🇬 Nigeria · 🇰🇪 Kenya · 🇺🇬 Uganda · 🇬🇭 Ghana · 🇿🇲 Zambia · 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe · 🇲🇼 Malawi · 🇧🇼 Botswana · 🇳🇦 Namibia · 🇱🇸 Lesotho · 🇸🇿 Eswatini · 🇷🇼 Rwanda · 🇨🇲 Cameroon · 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone · 🇱🇷 Liberia · 🇬🇲 Gambia · 🇸🇨 Seychelles · 🇲🇺 Mauritius · 🇫🇯 Fiji · 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands · 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea · 🇻🇺 Vanuatu · 🇰🇮 Kiribati · 🇹🇻 Tuvalu · 🇳🇷 Nauru · 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands · 🇵🇼 Palau · 🇲🇹 Malta · 🇨🇾 Cyprus · 🇸🇸 South Sudan
Regional / Co-official (subnational):
🇪🇸 Spain (Gibraltar) · 🇳🇱 Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten) · 🇲🇾 Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah) · 🇨🇭 Switzerland (de facto)
Widely spoken as a second language:
🇵🇭 Philippines · 🇲🇾 Malaysia · 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka · 🇧🇩 Bangladesh · 🇧🇳 Brunei · 🇭🇰 Hong Kong · 🇸🇬 Singapore · 🇮🇱 Israel · 🇧🇭 Bahrain · 🇰🇼 Kuwait · 🇶🇦 Qatar · 🇦🇪 UAE · 🇴🇲 Oman · 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · 🇪🇬 Egypt · 🇯🇴 Jordan · 🇱🇧 Lebanon · 🇹🇷 Turkey · 🇹🇭 Thailand · 🇻🇳 Vietnam · 🇮🇩 Indonesia · 🇦🇫 Afghanistan · 🇳🇵 Nepal · 🇲🇲 Myanmar
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The English-speaking world gave humanity the chance to walk on the Moon (NASA, Apollo program), peer into the depths of the Universe with the Hubble and James Webb telescopes, and discover Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Modern cosmology was born here — Stephen Hawking, the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation (Penzias and Wilson), radio astronomy (Jodrell Bank Observatory). And today, Elon Musk and SpaceX are making space more accessible, while Starlink weaves a web of connectivity around the planet.
The English-speaking world gave humanity the chance to walk on the Moon (NASA, Apollo program), peer into the depths of the Universe with the Hubble and James Webb telescopes, and discover Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Modern cosmology was born here — Stephen Hawking, the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation (Penzias and Wilson), radio astronomy (Jodrell Bank Observatory). And today, Elon Musk and SpaceX are making space more accessible, while Starlink weaves a web of connectivity around the planet.
🇷🇺
Russia and former USSR countries
Language: Russian [Русский]
🌍 Countries: 17
👥 Population: ~ 248 million speakers
🌍 Countries with significant presence of the language:
🇷🇺 Russia · 🇧🇾 Belarus · 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan · 🇺🇦 Ukraine · 🇲🇩 Moldova · 🇹🇯 Tajikistan · 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan · 🇦🇲 Armenia · 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan · 🇬🇪 Georgia · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇱🇹 Lithuania · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇩🇪 Germany · 🇮🇱 Israel · 🇫🇮 Finland
👥 Population: ~ 248 million speakers
🌍 Countries with significant presence of the language:
🇷🇺 Russia · 🇧🇾 Belarus · 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan · 🇺🇦 Ukraine · 🇲🇩 Moldova · 🇹🇯 Tajikistan · 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan · 🇦🇲 Armenia · 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan · 🇬🇪 Georgia · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇱🇹 Lithuania · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇩🇪 Germany · 🇮🇱 Israel · 🇫🇮 Finland
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Russian is the language of the first satellite and the first human in space. It was in Russian that Yuri Gagarin said “Poyekhali!” (“Let’s go!”), opening the era of crewed spaceflight. Tsiolkovsky theoretically laid the groundwork for space travel, and Korolev brought it to life. The Venera probes sent back the first panoramas from another planet, and the Mir station became humanity’s first long-term home in orbit. Ukraine made enormous contributions — the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Dnipro developed the Zenit and Dnepr launch vehicles, while the Andrushivka Observatory and the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory are among the largest in Europe. The RATAN-600 radio telescope and observatories in the Caucasus continue to explore the Universe. Today, Russia remains a key partner on the ISS, and Russian continues to be spoken in space.
Russian is the language of the first satellite and the first human in space. It was in Russian that Yuri Gagarin said “Poyekhali!” (“Let’s go!”), opening the era of crewed spaceflight. Tsiolkovsky theoretically laid the groundwork for space travel, and Korolev brought it to life. The Venera probes sent back the first panoramas from another planet, and the Mir station became humanity’s first long-term home in orbit. Ukraine made enormous contributions — the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Dnipro developed the Zenit and Dnepr launch vehicles, while the Andrushivka Observatory and the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory are among the largest in Europe. The RATAN-600 radio telescope and observatories in the Caucasus continue to explore the Universe. Today, Russia remains a key partner on the ISS, and Russian continues to be spoken in space.
🇨🇳
China
Language: Chinese [中文]
🌍 Countries: 3
👥 Population: ≈ 1.43 billion people
🌍 Countries with significant presence of the language: 🇨🇳 China, Taiwan, 🇸🇬 Singapore
👥 Population: ≈ 1.43 billion people
🌍 Countries with significant presence of the language: 🇨🇳 China, Taiwan, 🇸🇬 Singapore
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Chinese astronomers have been recording supernovae for over 4,000 years — they documented the 1054 explosion that created the Crab Nebula. Today, China is a space powerhouse: the Tiangong space station, Chang’e lunar rovers, the Tianwen-1 Mars mission, the world’s largest radio telescope FAST (500 meters), and its own BeiDou navigation system.
Chinese astronomers have been recording supernovae for over 4,000 years — they documented the 1054 explosion that created the Crab Nebula. Today, China is a space powerhouse: the Tiangong space station, Chang’e lunar rovers, the Tianwen-1 Mars mission, the world’s largest radio telescope FAST (500 meters), and its own BeiDou navigation system.
🇮🇳
India
Language: Hindi [हिन्दी]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇮🇳 India (official at the federal level)
👥 Population: ≈ 1.45 billion people
👥 Population: ≈ 1.45 billion people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Ancient Indian astronomers (Aryabhata) knew as early as the 5th century that the Earth revolves around the Sun and accurately calculated its circumference. They gave the world the concept of zero. Today, ISRO amazes with its efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Mangalyaan reached Mars on a budget smaller than a Hollywood movie, and Chandrayaan discovered water on the Moon. India is the first country to reach the Moon’s south pole.
Ancient Indian astronomers (Aryabhata) knew as early as the 5th century that the Earth revolves around the Sun and accurately calculated its circumference. They gave the world the concept of zero. Today, ISRO amazes with its efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Mangalyaan reached Mars on a budget smaller than a Hollywood movie, and Chandrayaan discovered water on the Moon. India is the first country to reach the Moon’s south pole.
🌍
Middle East and North Africa
Language: Arabic [العربية]
🌍 Countries (22): 🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇮🇶 Iraq, 🇯🇴 Jordan, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇱🇧 Lebanon, 🇱🇾 Libya, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇸 Palestine, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇸🇾 Syria, 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 🇦🇪 UAE, 🇾🇪 Yemen, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇰🇲 Comoros
👥 Population: ≈ 450 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 450 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Golden Age of Islamic astronomy gave the world names like Al-Battani (who refined the length of the year), Al-Sufi (who discovered the Andromeda Galaxy), Al-Biruni (who measured the Earth’s radius), and Ibn al-Haytham (the father of optics). The observatories of Baghdad, Damascus, and Samarkand were centers of science while Europe was going through the Dark Ages. Today, the UAE has sent the Hope probe to Mars, and Qatar is actively searching for exoplanets.
The Golden Age of Islamic astronomy gave the world names like Al-Battani (who refined the length of the year), Al-Sufi (who discovered the Andromeda Galaxy), Al-Biruni (who measured the Earth’s radius), and Ibn al-Haytham (the father of optics). The observatories of Baghdad, Damascus, and Samarkand were centers of science while Europe was going through the Dark Ages. Today, the UAE has sent the Hope probe to Mars, and Qatar is actively searching for exoplanets.
🇪🇸🇲🇽🇦🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴
Spain and Latin America
Language: Spanish [Español]
🌍 Countries (20): 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇻🇪 Venezuela, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
👥 Population: ≈ 480 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 480 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Maya and Inca civilizations built observatories (Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu) and created calendars more accurate than European ones of their time. Today, Chile is the astronomy capital of the world — home to VLT and ALMA (European Southern Observatory). The Canary Islands host the Gran Telescopio Canarias, one of the largest telescopes on Earth. Spain and Latin American countries are actively involved in exoplanet research and dark energy studies.
The Maya and Inca civilizations built observatories (Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu) and created calendars more accurate than European ones of their time. Today, Chile is the astronomy capital of the world — home to VLT and ALMA (European Southern Observatory). The Canary Islands host the Gran Telescopio Canarias, one of the largest telescopes on Earth. Spain and Latin American countries are actively involved in exoplanet research and dark energy studies.
🌎 We’ve united the Spanish-speaking world in a single language version to create the highest quality translation for over 500 million people on both sides of the Atlantic. Our linguists have crafted a version that is equally well understood in Madrid, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires.
🇧🇷🇵🇹🇦🇴🇲🇿
Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking world
Language: Portuguese [Português]
🌍 Countries (9): 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe, 🇹🇱 East Timor, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
👥 Population: ≈ 280 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 280 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
During the Age of Discovery, the Portuguese mastered celestial navigation, allowing them to explore the oceans. Today, Brazil participates in the Gemini Project (observatories in Chile and Hawaii) and is developing its own space program. Angola and Mozambique, located in the southern hemisphere, offer unique opportunities for observing skies inaccessible to Europe and the United States.
During the Age of Discovery, the Portuguese mastered celestial navigation, allowing them to explore the oceans. Today, Brazil participates in the Gemini Project (observatories in Chile and Hawaii) and is developing its own space program. Angola and Mozambique, located in the southern hemisphere, offer unique opportunities for observing skies inaccessible to Europe and the United States.
🇫🇷
France and the Francophone world
Language: French [Français]
🌍 Countries (29): 🇫🇷 France, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇨 Monaco, 🇨🇦 Canada (Quebec), 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇬🇦 Gabon, 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇨🇲 Cameroon, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, 🇸🇨 Seychelles, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
👥 Population: ≈ 350 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 350 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Messier Catalog, compiled by a French astronomer, still serves as a guide to nebulae and star clusters. Le Verrier mathematically discovered Neptune without ever looking through a telescope. Today, France is a key member of ESA, and the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana is Europe’s main gateway to space. The CoRoT satellite discovered the first exoplanets, and telescopes in Hawaii (CFHT) continue to explore the Universe.
The Messier Catalog, compiled by a French astronomer, still serves as a guide to nebulae and star clusters. Le Verrier mathematically discovered Neptune without ever looking through a telescope. Today, France is a key member of ESA, and the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana is Europe’s main gateway to space. The CoRoT satellite discovered the first exoplanets, and telescopes in Hawaii (CFHT) continue to explore the Universe.
🇩🇪🇦🇹🇨🇭
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Language: German [Deutsch]
🌍 Countries (6): 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇧🇪 Belgium
👥 Population: ≈ 100 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 100 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Johannes Kepler discovered the laws of planetary motion, forever changing our understanding of the solar system. Wilhelm Herschel, though he worked in England, was German and discovered Uranus. Albert Einstein, a Swiss citizen, revolutionized physics with his theory of relativity, without which modern cosmology would be impossible. Today, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of Europe’s leaders, and the SOFIA telescope studied the infrared Universe from the stratosphere.
Johannes Kepler discovered the laws of planetary motion, forever changing our understanding of the solar system. Wilhelm Herschel, though he worked in England, was German and discovered Uranus. Albert Einstein, a Swiss citizen, revolutionized physics with his theory of relativity, without which modern cosmology would be impossible. Today, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of Europe’s leaders, and the SOFIA telescope studied the infrared Universe from the stratosphere.
🇮🇹
Italy
Language: Italian [Italiano]
🌍 Countries (4): 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇸🇲 San Marino, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
👥 Population: ≈ 65 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 65 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Galileo Galilei turned a telescope to the sky and saw Jupiter’s moons, the phases of Venus, and sunspots — this marked the birth of observational astronomy. Today, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) participates in developing Vega rockets, and the Virgo gravitational wave detector near Pisa captures ripples in spacetime from colliding black holes. The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest in the world.
Galileo Galilei turned a telescope to the sky and saw Jupiter’s moons, the phases of Venus, and sunspots — this marked the birth of observational astronomy. Today, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) participates in developing Vega rockets, and the Virgo gravitational wave detector near Pisa captures ripples in spacetime from colliding black holes. The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest in the world.
🇯🇵
Japan
Language: Japanese [日本語]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇯🇵 Japan
👥 Population: ≈ 123 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 123 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Medieval Japanese astronomers left unique records of supernovae, including the one that created the Crab Nebula. Today, JAXA is one of the world’s leading space agencies: the Hayabusa probe was the first to return asteroid samples to Earth, Akatsuki is studying Venus, and the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii is one of the largest in the world. Japan is a key partner on the ISS (Kibo module).
Medieval Japanese astronomers left unique records of supernovae, including the one that created the Crab Nebula. Today, JAXA is one of the world’s leading space agencies: the Hayabusa probe was the first to return asteroid samples to Earth, Akatsuki is studying Venus, and the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii is one of the largest in the world. Japan is a key partner on the ISS (Kibo module).
🇮🇱
Israel
Language: Hebrew [עברית]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇮🇱 Israel
👥 Population: ≈ 9 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 9 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Dead Sea Scrolls contain some of the oldest astronomical texts. Modern Israel is a recognized leader in gravitational wave and black hole research (Weizmann Institute). The Beresheet lander was the first private mission to the Moon. Israeli scientists actively participate in NASA and ESA projects, and the space program continues to grow despite the country’s small size.
The Dead Sea Scrolls contain some of the oldest astronomical texts. Modern Israel is a recognized leader in gravitational wave and black hole research (Weizmann Institute). The Beresheet lander was the first private mission to the Moon. Israeli scientists actively participate in NASA and ESA projects, and the space program continues to grow despite the country’s small size.
🇮🇩
Indonesia
Language: Indonesian [Bahasa Indonesia]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇮🇩 Indonesia
👥 Population: ≈ 280 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 280 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Bosscha Observatory — the oldest in Southeast Asia — has been operating in Indonesia since 1923. Located on the equator, it allows observation of unique parts of the sky. The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) develops satellites and studies space weather. Indonesia is a key location for observing the equatorial atmosphere and its effects on communications and navigation.
The Bosscha Observatory — the oldest in Southeast Asia — has been operating in Indonesia since 1923. Located on the equator, it allows observation of unique parts of the sky. The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) develops satellites and studies space weather. Indonesia is a key location for observing the equatorial atmosphere and its effects on communications and navigation.
🇧🇩
Bangladesh
Language: Bengali [বাংলা]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
👥 Population: ≈ 173 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 173 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Bengal region has ancient traditions of astronomical observations tied to calendars and agriculture. Today, SPARRSO (Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization) works on satellite technology and climate monitoring. The launch of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite opened a new chapter in the country’s space program. Bangladesh actively studies the impact of monsoons and weather on space communications.
The Bengal region has ancient traditions of astronomical observations tied to calendars and agriculture. Today, SPARRSO (Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization) works on satellite technology and climate monitoring. The launch of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite opened a new chapter in the country’s space program. Bangladesh actively studies the impact of monsoons and weather on space communications.
🇻🇳
Vietnam
Language: Vietnamese [Tiếng Việt]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇻🇳 Vietnam
👥 Population: ≈ 100 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 100 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Vietnamese lunar calendar is a legacy of thousands of years of sky observations. Modern Vietnam is actively developing its space program: the PicoDragon and NanoDragon satellites were built domestically, and the National Space Center collaborates with Japan. Its geographical location allows observation of unique parts of the sky, making Vietnam an important partner in regional space weather research.
The Vietnamese lunar calendar is a legacy of thousands of years of sky observations. Modern Vietnam is actively developing its space program: the PicoDragon and NanoDragon satellites were built domestically, and the National Space Center collaborates with Japan. Its geographical location allows observation of unique parts of the sky, making Vietnam an important partner in regional space weather research.
🇹🇭
Thailand
Language: Thai [ไทย]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇹🇭 Thailand
👥 Population: ≈ 71 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 71 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Thai astrology and calendar are based on centuries of astronomical observations. Today, the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has built the highest observatory in Southeast Asia (2,457 m). The 40-meter radio telescope TNRT allows the country to participate in global pulsar and black hole research. Thailand is actively developing cooperation with ESO and other world observatories.
Thai astrology and calendar are based on centuries of astronomical observations. Today, the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has built the highest observatory in Southeast Asia (2,457 m). The 40-meter radio telescope TNRT allows the country to participate in global pulsar and black hole research. Thailand is actively developing cooperation with ESO and other world observatories.
🇹🇷
Turkey
Language: Turkish [Türkçe]
🌍 Countries (2): 🇹🇷 Turkey, Northern Cyprus
👥 Population: ≈ 85.5 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 85.5 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Istanbul Observatory of Taqi al-Din (16th century) was one of the largest in the Islamic world — its instruments could measure time with astonishing accuracy. Ulugh Beg, a ruler and astronomer, created a star catalog used for centuries. Today, Turkey is building the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG) with a 4-meter telescope, developing satellites (BILSAT, RASAT), and has announced a national lunar program.
The Istanbul Observatory of Taqi al-Din (16th century) was one of the largest in the Islamic world — its instruments could measure time with astonishing accuracy. Ulugh Beg, a ruler and astronomer, created a star catalog used for centuries. Today, Turkey is building the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG) with a 4-meter telescope, developing satellites (BILSAT, RASAT), and has announced a national lunar program.
🇮🇷
Iran and Afghanistan (Persian)
Language: Persian [فارسی] (including Dari)
🌍 Countries (2): 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
👥 Population: ≈ 131 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 131 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Omar Khayyam, poet and astronomer, created the Persian calendar, which is more accurate than the Gregorian — its error is just one day in 5,000 years. Al-Biruni, a native of modern-day Uzbekistan who wrote in Persian, calculated the Earth’s radius almost exactly. Today, Iran launches its own satellites (Omid, Rasad-1) and is developing a space program, while Afghanistan, with its high mountains, has potential for unique astronomical observations.
Omar Khayyam, poet and astronomer, created the Persian calendar, which is more accurate than the Gregorian — its error is just one day in 5,000 years. Al-Biruni, a native of modern-day Uzbekistan who wrote in Persian, calculated the Earth’s radius almost exactly. Today, Iran launches its own satellites (Omid, Rasad-1) and is developing a space program, while Afghanistan, with its high mountains, has potential for unique astronomical observations.
🇰🇷🇰🇵
Korea
Language: Korean [한국어]
🌍 Countries (2): 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇰🇵 North Korea
👥 Population: ≈ 78 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 78 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju (7th century) is the oldest surviving astronomical instrument in East Asia. Korean star charts from that era are remarkably accurate. Today, KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) has developed the Nuri launch vehicle, launched the Danuri lunar orbiter, and actively participates in global projects studying black holes and dark energy.
Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju (7th century) is the oldest surviving astronomical instrument in East Asia. Korean star charts from that era are remarkably accurate. Today, KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) has developed the Nuri launch vehicle, launched the Danuri lunar orbiter, and actively participates in global projects studying black holes and dark energy.
🇦🇫
Afghanistan (Pashto)
Language: Pashto [پښتو]
🌍 Countries (1): 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
👥 Population: ≈ 42 million people
👥 Population: ≈ 42 million people
🌟 Contribution to Astronomy and Space Exploration
Afghanistan is part of the great Persian-Islamic astronomical tradition. Al-Biruni, one of the greatest medieval scientists, was born here. The high mountains of the Hindu Kush are an ideal location for astronomical observations, largely untapped today. The caravan routes of the Silk Road required celestial navigation, and local astronomers passed down this knowledge for centuries.
Afghanistan is part of the great Persian-Islamic astronomical tradition. Al-Biruni, one of the greatest medieval scientists, was born here. The high mountains of the Hindu Kush are an ideal location for astronomical observations, largely untapped today. The caravan routes of the Silk Road required celestial navigation, and local astronomers passed down this knowledge for centuries.
📊 170+ countries covered by our 20+ language representations
For each language, the total population of countries where it has official status
171 countries • 7.5 billion people • 93% of the world’s population
* Including regions with disputed status: Taiwan and Northern Cyprus. Population shown in millions.
🔄 Languages in active development (population >15 million)
Our partners are actively working on manual translations for these major languages. While the translation is in progress, you can use automatic translation (button in the bottom left corner).
🇵🇰
Urdu [اردو]
Countries: Pakistan (population 240 million, with English enjoying official status alongside Urdu)
In development — Urdu version. English version is already available.
🇵🇭
Filipino
Countries: Philippines (population 110 million, with English enjoying official status alongside Filipino)
In development — Filipino version. English version is already available.
🇹🇿🇰🇪🇺🇬
Swahili [Kiswahili]
Countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo (about 150 million speakers)
In development — Swahili version.
🇳🇬🇳🇪
Hausa
Countries: Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Cameroon (about 80 million speakers)
In development — Hausa version.
🇪🇹
Amharic [አማርኛ]
Countries: Ethiopia (population 120 million)
In development — Amharic version.
🇲🇲
Burmese [မြန်မာ]
Countries: Myanmar (population 55 million)
In development — Burmese version.
🇱🇰
Sinhala [සිංහල]
Countries: Sri Lanka (population 22 million)
In development — Sinhala version.
🇰🇭
Khmer [ភាសាខ្មែរ]
Countries: Cambodia (population 17 million)
In development — Khmer version.
🌍 ICHB.ORG Global Reach
20+
manually translated languages
170+
countries
7.5
billion people
93%
of world population
⭐ 20 manually translated languages — access to the stars for 7.5 billion people in 170+ countries (93% of the world’s population)!
🌍 About 0.6 billion people (7%) in ~23 countries are not yet covered by our official languages. We are actively expanding our partner network to reach them.
* Based on UN data (2024) and official language status in each country.
Choose your region and begin your journey to the stars
If your language is not in the list, use the automatic translation button — it supports over 100 languages.
It may not be perfect, but it opens the main door: the ability to explore the Universe with ICHB.ORG and leave your name among the stars.