National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand

What National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand does

NARIT is Thailand's national astronomical research institute, constituted as a Public Organization (องค์การมหาชน) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and formally established in 2009 following cabinet approval in 2004. It operates the country's sole national observatory complex, anchored by the 2.4m Ritchey-Chrétien optical telescope at Doi Inthanon (the largest in Southeast Asia) and the 40m single-dish radio telescope at the Thai National Radio Astronomy Observatory, complemented by the Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark headquarters (featuring a 17m 8K digital planetarium, 19 interactive exhibition zones, and advanced optics and mechanical laboratories), five Regional Observatories for the Public across Thailand, and the Thai Robotic Telescope Network spanning Chile, China, the United States, and Australia. The institute has developed proprietary scientific instrumentation including the MRES, LRS, EXOhSPEC, ULTRASPEC, ARC 4K, Focal Reducer, and DARTS spectrographs/cameras, and is the implementing agency for Thailand's contribution to China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission via the CE-7 MATCH payload scheduled for launch in August 2026.

NARIT's mandate spans frontier astronomical research, technology development, technology transfer, and public science communication. It maintains 71 active international research collaborations across 13 countries and participates in flagship consortia including the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS, the first Southeast Asian member), ESA's ARRAKIHS mission, the Cherenkov Telescope Array, JUNO, IAU Southeast Asia ROAD, and UNESCO's ICTP. Public outreach is delivered through the planetarium, free astronomy exhibitions, weekly NARIT Public Night stargazing events, mobile school programs reaching 700+ schools, youth camps, teacher training (9,000+ teachers trained), and student astronomy competitions, accumulating more than 4.17 million participants cumulatively and over 600,000 annually. CHALAWAN-HPC provides high-performance computing and a data archive serves research users.

The business model is overwhelmingly government-funded: annual budget allocations from MHESI are the primary revenue stream, supplemented by minimal public admission fees (50 baht general / 30 baht students at the planetarium), free exhibitions and stargazing events, and inquiry-based technology transfer services to Thai industry (thin-film sputtering, precision CNC manufacturing, optical coating, medical and environmental technology, and educational media). There are no disclosed commercial revenue figures; operations are governed by the Public Organization Act rather than market discipline.

Name

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand

Legal name

สถาบันวิจัยดาราศาสตร์แห่งชาติ (องค์การมหาชน)

Website

https://narit.or.th

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NARIT is Thailand's national astronomical research Public Organization under MHESI, operating the country's premier optical and radio observatories, an international robotic telescope network, and the CE-7 MATCH lunar payload for China's Chang'e 7 mission, while delivering public outreach to more than 4.17 million participants and technology transfer to Thai industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astronomical Research and Space Science Services

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (92711), Space Research and Technology (927110)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Astronomical research services
• Radio astronomy observatories
• Space science instrumentation
• Astronomy public education
• Technology transfer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiang Mai

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Budget: NARIT is a Thai government public organization (องค์การมหาชน) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). It is funded primarily through annual government budget allocations rather than commercial revenue generation.
2. Technology Transfer Services: NARIT generates technology transfer revenue by providing specialized services to the industrial sector, including thin-film coating (sputtering technology), advanced mechanical manufacturing, and educational media production. Contact: [email protected]
3. Public Admission Fees: Planetarium and exhibition admission fees: 50 baht for general public, 30 baht for students. Ticketing via ticket.narit.or.th. Public Night (NARIT Public Night) is free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

NARIT operates Thailand's national astronomical research infrastructure, including the Thai National Observatory (2.4m optical telescope), Thai National Radio Astronomy Observatory (40m radio telescope), Thai Robotic Telescope Network across four continents, and the Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark with a 17m 8K fulldome planetarium. It also provides proprietary scientific instruments (ULTRASPEC, MRES, LRS, EXOhSPEC, CE-7 MATCH), high-performance computing (CHALAWAN-HPC), and public astronomy education and technology transfer services to Thai industry.

Product overview

NARIT operates a comprehensive national astronomy infrastructure consisting of the Thai National Observatory (with 2.4m and 1m optical telescopes at Doi Inthanon), the Thai National Radio Astronomy Observatory (40m and 13m radio telescopes), the Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark headquarters (housing a 17m 8K planetarium and advanced labs), five Regional Observatories across Thailand, and the Thai Robotic Telescope Network with international telescope installations. The product portfolio includes specialized scientific instruments (ULTRASPEC, MRES, LRS, ARC 4K, EXOhSPEC, Focal Reducer, DARTS), the CE-7 MATCH lunar mission payload, CHALAWAN-HPC computing resources, and Data Archive services. Public-facing services encompass planetarium shows, astronomy exhibitions, school programs, and technology transfer in medical, environmental, and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thai National Observatory (TNO) Thailand's premier optical observatory located at Doi Inthanon, housing a 2.4m Ritchey-Chrétien reflecting telescope (largest in Southeast Asia) and a 1m telescope for astronomical research. Open to international researchers via proposal-based telescope time access.
• Thai National Radio Astronomy Observatory Radio astronomy facility featuring a 40m Nasmyth-Cassegrain radio telescope and a 13m VGOS (VLBI Global Observing System) radio telescope for radio astronomy and geodesy research, operational since 2023.
• Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark NARIT headquarters in Chiang Mai featuring a 17m fulldome digital planetarium (8K resolution, 160-seat capacity), 19 interactive astronomy exhibition zones, observation facilities with 0.7m telescope, advanced manufacturing labs, and space technology innovation center. Free exhibitions; paid planetarium shows.
• Regional Observatories for the Public Five regional observatories across Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, Khon Kaen, and Phitsanulok under construction) providing astronomy education, public services, and regional scientific facilities for local communities.
• Thai Robotic Telescope Network (TRT) Network of remotely controlled telescopes (0.4-0.7m aperture) installed at international observatories in Chile, China, USA, and Australia, enabling Thai astronomers to observe the southern hemisphere sky and providing over 300 nights per year of southern hemisphere observation time.
• CE-7 MATCH Scientific Payload Chang'E-7 Moon-Aiming Thai-Chinese Hodoscope - Thai-made scientific payload for lunar orbit mission, designed to measure cosmic radiation and study space weather conditions around the Moon. Developed jointly by NARIT and Mahidol University.
• CHALAWAN-HPC High-Performance Computing High Performance Computing system for astrophysics research, data processing, and computational astronomy support, accessible to researchers via chalawan.narit.or.th.
• Astronomical Data Archive Astronomical data archive service for storing, accessing, and managing observational data from NARIT's telescopes and research activities.
• Technology Transfer Services Commercialization of astronomy-derived technologies including medical technology, environmental technology, industrial/mechanical technology, glass coating services, and educational astronomy media for Thai industry.
• Planetarium and Astronomy Exhibition Services Public astronomy education services including fulldome digital planetarium shows, interactive astronomy exhibitions, group visit programs, and observation activities for schools, families, and the general public.
• School Programs and Youth Camps Curriculum-aligned astronomy education programs, school field trips, youth camps, student astronomy competitions, and teacher training workshops for K-12 schools across Thailand.
• NARIT Public Night Free public stargazing events every Saturday night (November-May) at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark, featuring telescopes, guided stargazing, and astronomy instruction for the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,177,314 cumulative public participants in astronomy services
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• China National Space Administration (CNSA) / National Space Science Center (NSSC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025The CE-7 MATCH scientific payload was formally delivered to China's National Space Science Center (NSSC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, on 29 August 2025 in Beijing, for integration with the Chang'e 7 lunar orbiter. The handover ceremony was attended by Thailand's Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing.
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) / China National Space Administration (CNSA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2024Government-to-government level cooperation agreement signed on 5 April 2024 for the Thai-Chinese Moon exploration program, with NARIT as the implementing agency. The CE-7 MATCH (Chang'E-7 Moon-Aiming Thai-Chinese Hodoscope) is the scientific payload developed jointly by NARIT and Mahidol University for installation on China's Chang'e 7 lunar orbiter mission, scheduled for launch in August 2026.
• Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) / China National Space Administration (CNSA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2023NARIT signed a cooperation agreement with China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) under CNSA on 25 September 2023 in Beijing, marking the beginning of Thai-Chinese deep space exploration collaboration. This partnership led to the development and delivery of the CE-7 MATCH scientific payload for the Chang'e 7 lunar orbiter mission under the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program. Thailand is the first Southeast Asian country to join the ILRS. The cooperation was elevated to a government-level agreement signed on 5 April 2024, witnessed by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
• Mahidol UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMahidol University jointly developed the CE-7 MATCH scientific payload with NARIT, contributing to the Thai-Chinese lunar exploration mission. Mahidol University is a key academic partner in the space science collaboration under the ILRS program.
• University of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of North Carolina for installation of the PROMPT 0.7m telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Chile, as part of the Thai Robotic Telescope Network (TRT). Provides over 300 nights of observation time per year in the southern celestial hemisphere.
• Yunnan Observatory, ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement with Yunnan Observatory for installation of a remote-control telescope at Gao Mei Gu Observatory in Yunnan Province, China, honoring Princess Sirindhorn's 60th birthday anniversary. Extends northern hemisphere coverage for the Thai Robotic Telescope Network.
• Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO), USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for installation of a 0.7m robotic telescope at Sierra Remote Observatories in California, USA. The high-altitude pine forest location provides excellent dark sky conditions year-round, with 14-hour time difference from Thailand enabling daytime tracking of northern hemisphere objects by Thai researchers.
• Springbrook Observatory / Private Australian OperatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with private Australian observatory near Coonabarabran, NSW, for installation of COK700 and COK17 robotic telescopes. Located adjacent to the national Siding Spring Observatory, benefiting from government-protected dark sky conditions. Operational since July 2017.
• University of Sheffield (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with University of Sheffield in the development of the ULTRASPEC high-speed imaging camera, capable of recording ~200 frames per second at millisecond speeds for rapid astronomical event detection.
• University of Warwick (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Warwick in the development of the ULTRASPEC high-speed camera technology for the Thai National Observatory.
• Nanjing Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics and Physics (NIOMP), ChinacoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Nanjing Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the development of the MRES (Medium-Resolution Echelle Spectrograph) for the Thai National Observatory.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT participates in ESA's ARRAKIHS mission (Analysis of Resolved Remnants of Accreted galaxies as a Key Instrument for Halo Surveys), the second ESA Fast-class space science mission (F2). Planned for launch in 2030, the mission will study galaxy formation history and test dark matter models.
• Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT participates in CTA, the world's largest ground-based gamma-ray astronomy facility, contributing to high-energy astrophysics research.
• JUNO (Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT participates in the JUNO neutrino observatory project, contributing to neutrino physics research.
• International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ITCA) / UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT hosts the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Astronomy) under UNESCO, serving as a regional training hub for astronomy in Southeast Asia.
• International Astronomical Union (IAU) - SEA-ROADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT serves as the regional coordination center under the International Astronomical Union's Southeast Asia ROAD (Regional Office of Astronomy for Development), promoting astronomy development in the region.
• Thai Space Consortium (TSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal consortium under NARIT for Thai space science cooperation, developing space system technologies and deep space exploration capabilities.
• Lick Observatory, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARIT collaborates with Lick Observatory on the DARTS (Database and Analysis of Robotic Transient Spectra) robotic spectrograph project for rapid supernova observation and classification.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO): SKAO is a global intergovernmental organization building the world's largest radio telescope, with member-state participation including Thailand via NARIT. Comparable as an international collaboration platform in radio astronomy and astronomy diplomacy.
• Chinese National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC): NAOC, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, operates LAMOST, FAST radio telescope participation, and manages deep-space science missions. NARIT's most strategic partner and most analogous large-scale national astronomy body in the region; comparable in mission areas though much larger in scale.
• National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ): NAOJ operates Japan's national network of optical, radio, and solar observatories, runs Subaru Telescope, and leads Japan's space science instrumentation. Comparable as a national astronomy body combining optical/radio observatories, instrument development, and public outreach across an Asia-Pacific country.
• ESO (European Southern Observatory): ESO operates world-leading optical telescopes (VLT, ALMA radio), develops astronomical instruments, and coordinates multi-country observatory cooperation. Comparable to NARIT in operating international-tier telescopes accessible to research communities in multiple countries.

Direct peers

• Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) Macquarie: AAO Macquarie is a national astronomical instrumentation center developing optical instrumentation for observatories worldwide and supporting space science. Comparable to NARIT in focusing on telescope/instrument R&D rather than just operating observing facilities.
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): IIA operates India's national optical observatories (including the 2m Himalayan Chandra Telescope), develops astronomical instrumentation, and runs nationwide public outreach programs. Comparable to NARIT in being a developing-economy national astronomy institute focused on optical astronomy, instrumentation development, and STEM outreach.
• Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI): KASI is South Korea's government-funded national astronomy and space science institute, operating optical and radio observatories, developing satellite payloads, and partnering with international space agencies (NASA, ESA). Closely comparable to NARIT in mission scope — research infrastructure, instrument development, government body status, and Southeast/East Asia positioning.
• Indonesian Space Agency (BRIN Space Research Organization): BRIN's space research organization is the Indonesian successor to LAPAN, operating the Bosscha Observatory and developing national space instruments. Closely comparable as a Southeast Asian government-led astronomy/space research entity building national capacity.
• South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO): SARAO operates the MeerKAT/SKA precursor radio telescope array and manages national astronomy infrastructure in a developing-economy context. Comparable to NARIT in operating premier radio astronomy facilities, leading national instrument R&D, and integrating outreach into a developing-economy science infrastructure.

Regional players

• National Astronomical Research Institute / South Korea Astronomy Datacenter: While KASI already appears above, the Regional KASI Astronomy Datacenter activities include Korea's SE Asia astronomy outreach; comparable to NARIT for programs in public science education across Southeast Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NARIT_Thailand
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NARIT_Thailand
• Facebookfacebook.com/NARITpage
• Instagraminstagram.com/narit_thailand
• TikToktiktok.com/@narit_thailand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/narit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand