Astronomy in Thailand

[glenc]

On 12/2 I spent the night observing from the top of Thailand's highest mountain. Saran the deputy director from NARIT kindly took me up there.
NARIT is setting up a 2.4m telescope at an altitude of 2457m.
http://narit.or.th/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=12

It was cold (5C) and I mainly observed the double cluster etc with binoculars.
I looked at M81/82 with binoculars and a telescope and Saran imaged the horse head nebula.
Naked eye observing was interesting too with everything seemingly in the wrong place.

If you want to see the northern skies Thailand and Hawaii are two of the nearest suitable options.
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=1&lg=2

[Liz]

Wow, that sounds fabulous Glen :thumbsup:
Have been to N Hem a few times, but nowhere dark for viewing, as in towns. I keep meaning to get to a darker site, but harder to achieve without a car, and usually tired after huge days = early to bed. :shrug:

[Starman73]

Hey there,

I was in Thailand almost a year ago. Before the trip I thought great, I will get my first look at some of these northern constilations that I have heard so much about but never seen.

Well our first stop was Bankok, no joy there, way too much light, too many tall buildings. Next stop was Chang Mai, too much smoke and pollution in the air to even see a few metres in front of you at times. Last stop was Phuket, we stayed in Patong. We had a lovely spot on the hillside, the highest hotel there, the only one that wasn't effected by the tsunami but alas, there was far too much light pollution around.

So that was the first time I went above the equator and still didn't get to see any of those fabled northern constilations. I might just have to make sure our next holiday above the line has some dark places.

Paul

[gary]

Hi Glen,

Thanks for the great post and it is good to hear a "good news story" out of
Thailand given the current turmoil.

As you may be aware, the 2.4m telescope has an Australian connection.
It was built by Canberra-based EOS Space Systems and was bought by the
Thai Government as a gift for the King of Thailand for his birthday. The King is
reported to be an amateur astronomer himself.

See story here -
http://www.austrade.gov.au/A-gift-for-a-king/default.aspx

Chiang Mai is certainly a beautiful part of the world and though it can get very cold
up there in winter, it certainly can also get incredibly hot and humid in summer.
Plus the summer is the rainy season. So in a global sense, there are certainly better
places to locate a telescope, but it is understandable that the Thai's wanted it in
Thailand and undoubtedly it will be a powerful research instrument in their hands.

Best regards

Gary

[glenc]

Thanks Liz, Paul and Gary for your comments and the link to the article.
Saran has a friend in the air force and he recommended the observing site on Doi Inthanon because it is above the smoke haze.
Chiang Mai is dry from Dec to March. http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/Thailand/Chiang+Mai/Climate

[astroron]

Great report Glen,and welcome back.
I spent a few days in the hill country above Chiang Mai in 1977 and the sky at night was crystal clear when not cloudy which was most of the time, this was about June of that year.
Cheers