National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Data Archive (NARIT)

Overview

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Data Archive (archive.narit.or.th) is the digital repository managed by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), a public governmental organization under Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. It provides access to observational data, research outputs, and associated scientific materials gathered by NARIT's telescopes and research programs.

History and Institutional Background

NARIT's origins trace to July 20, 2004, when the Thai cabinet approved the establishment of a national astronomical research body. The organization was formally constituted as a public organization on January 1, 2009, following a Royal Decree signed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on December 27, 2008. NARIT's headquarters is located in Chiang Mai, and its principal observatory facility, the Thai National Observatory (TNO), sits atop Doi Inthanon—Thailand's highest mountain—at 2,450 meters above sea level in Chiang Mai Province.

Research Infrastructure

NARIT operates a 2.4-meter reflecting telescope at the Thai National Observatory, one of the largest and most modern instruments in Southeast Asia. In 2020, NARIT completed the Thai National Radio Telescope (TNRO), a 40-meter single-dish radio telescope. The institute also maintains the Thai Robotic Telescope Network (TRT), with instruments in Chile, China, and the United States, enabling round-the-clock sky monitoring. The headquarters complex in Chiang Mai houses astronomical laboratories, an optics and photonics laboratory, a library and astronomy archives center, and a digital planetarium.

Data Archive and Access

The NARIT Data Archive centralizes observational data from the institute's various instruments and research campaigns. The archive is designed for use by qualified researchers affiliated with NARIT and partner institutions, as well as the broader astronomical community. Data from the TRT network, the Thai National Telescope, and radio astronomy programs are catalogued and made available through the archive portal.