NARIT (National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand)

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) is Thailand's national astronomy agency, established in 2009 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. NARIT operates the Thai National Observatory on Doi Inthanon — the highest peak in Thailand at 2,457 metres — equipped with a 2.4-metre optical/near-infrared telescope, one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The institute conducts cutting-edge astronomy research, operates radio telescope networks for space science, supports international collaborative research programs, and develops astronomy education for Thai students and the public. NARIT has expanded into space science through partnerships with international space agencies and universities, contributing to transient phenomena monitoring, exoplanet research, and variable star studies. The institute also provides Earth observation satellite data services for the Thai government and manages Thailand's national time standard in collaboration with the National Institute of Metrology.