Thai National Observatory

Thai National Observatory

Organization	National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand
Location	Doi Inthanon Mountain, Doi Inthanon National Park, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Coordinates	Coordinates: 18°35′26″N 98°29′12″E / 18.590549°N 98.486546°E
Altitude	2,457 meters above mean sea level
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Location of Thai National Observatory within Thailand

Thai National Observatory (TNO) is in Doi Inthanon National Park, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand^[1][2] Atop Thailand's highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, this observatory is part of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, and is its main facility.^[3]

Facilities

The TNO has of two sections—the main observatory, and an auxiliary station lower on the mountain with offices and lodging for astronomers, facilities for public outreach activities (like school groups), and a small permanent exhibition for the public. Because the observatory is located in a national park, it was built to minimize environmental impact.

Equipment

• 2.4-meter reflecting Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with altazimuth mount, known as the Thai National Telescope (TNT). The telescope control system also controls movement of the dome automatically. The telescope itself was manufactured in Tucson, Arizona at EOS Technologies, Inc. (EOST). The primary mirror was fabricated and polished at the Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory (LZOS) in Russia. It is the largest optical telescope in the region. The TNT is used for research by NARIT astronomers and visiting researchers.
• 0.5-meter Schmidt-Cassegrain robotic telescope. This is similar to the type used at NARIT's regional observatories. It is used for training and education, testing new instrumentation and techniques, supporting the main telescope, and research that does not require the use of the main telescope.
• 2k x 2k CCD photometer with an BVRI filter system
• A research-grade 4k x 4k CCD photometer with an BVRI filter system
• A high-resolution echelle spectrograph (scheduled for use in 2014)

References

1. "Thai National Observatory (TNO)". National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). Retrieved 2015-01-14.
2. "Highest and biggest observatory of Thailand available now in Chiangmai". Chiang Rai Bulletin. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
3. Kramer, Busaba (2006). "Astronomy in Thailand" (PDF). IAU 2007. International Astronomical Union (IAU) (Astronomy for the developing world; IAU Special Session no. 5, 2006): 123–128. Bibcode:2007IAUSS...5..123K. doi:10.1017/S1743921307006850. Retrieved 2015-01-14.