Development of Radio Astronomy Infrastructure in Thailand: The Center for Radio Astronomy and Engineering and Beyond
Koichiro Sugiyama (a*), Nobuyuki Sakai (a), Bannawit Pimpanuwat (a), Phrudth Jaroenjittichai (a), Apichat Leckngam (a), Wiphu Rujopakarn (a), Boonrucksar Soonthornthum (a), Busaba H. Kramer (a, b), Gundolf Wieching (b), Ewan Barr (b), Pablo de Vicente (c), Jose A. Lopez-Perez (c), Zhiqiang Shen (d), Jinling Li (d), Taufiq Hidayat (e), Zamri Zainal Abidin (f), Pham Ngoc Diep (g), and Saran Poshyachinda (a), on behalf of Center for Radio Astronomy and Engineering members

a) National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), 260, Moo 4, Don Kaew Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang mai 50180, Thailand
*koichiro.sugiyama.th[at]gmail.com
b) Max Planck Institut fur Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hugel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
c) Yebes Observatory, the National Geographic Institute of Spain, Cerro de la Palera, s/n, 19141 Yebes, Guadalajara, Spain
d) Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 80 Nandan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, China
e) Bosscha Observatory and Astronomy Research Division, FMIPA, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
f) Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
g) Vietnam National Space Center, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

The Thai National Radio Astronomy Observatory (TNRO), established in Chiang Mai in 2017 by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, advances radio astronomy and geodesy infrastructures in Thailand. Its centerpiece, the 40-meter Thai National Radio Telescope (TNRT), operates from 0.3-115 GHz, supporting diverse scientific studies like molecular/maser lines and time-domain astrophysics. Developed with the Yebes Observatory (IGN), the TNRT features advanced L-band and K-band frontends with a universal backend both developed by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, enabling spectral line, continuum, pulsar, and very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations. Scientific operations commenced in October 2023, initially focusing on L-band observations.

TNRT is envisioned as a key single-dish instrument and a future node in Asia-Pacific and global VLBI networks, enhancing regional and global capabilities for higher-angular resolution and higher-imaging-quality radio astronomy. Complementing this is a 13-meter VGOS-type geodetic radio telescope, completed the grand-opening in May 2025, developed with the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. TNRO has evolved into the Center for Radio Astronomy and Engineering (CRAE), including an Advanced Radio Frequency Laboratory and plans for two more VGOS stations in southern Thailand within two years.

These initiatives aim to realize Thai National VLBI Array (TVA), which will serve as a robust foundation for the establishment of a future regional VLBI network in Southeast Asia, known as South-East Asia VLBI Network (SEAVN), in collaboration with ITB in Indonesia with their newly constructed VGOS station, Universiti Malaya in Malaysia, and Vietnam National Space Center in Vietnam.

Keywords: Telescopes- Radio continuum- Radio lines- Interferometers- Southeast Asia

Topic: Instrumentation in Astronomy