Thai National Radio Telescope

The Thai National Radio Telescope is a modern and highly efficient single-dish radio telescope of the Nasmyth-Cassegrain type, featuring a 40-meter diameter. It boasts full sky coverage, capable of rotating 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically, which enables quick and precise tracking of celestial objects. Its primary use is to study celestial bodies and related physical phenomena within the radio wavelength range. This includes a wide array of objects such as planets and comets within the solar system, the Sun, stars, active galaxies, star formation and explosions, neutron stars, galaxies, and black holes. The telescope operates under the “Radio Astronomy and Geodesy Network Development Project” from 2017 to 2021, aiming to expand observational capabilities, promote astronomy, and develop foundational knowledge in STEM fields. It also contributes to workforce development in astronomy, high-tech engineering, and advanced industries like communication technology, software engineering, and digital devices. It works in conjunction with the VGOS Radio Telescope for radio astronomy and geodesy research, serving as a regional connection station for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) networks in East Asia, Australia, and other regions.