NARIT News
ASEAN Astronomy Camp (AAC 2025)
The International Training Centre in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA) held the “ASEAN Astronomy Camp” or AAC 2025 from 11-14 March 2025 for over 42 youths and young adults of age 15-19 from 11 nationalities to learn about astronomy, experience stargazing atop Thailand’s highest peak, sharing their passion and culture and visiting one of the most advanced astronomical facilities in the region, all held at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) headquarters and facilities in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The ASEAN Astronomy Camp (AAC 2025) is an international gathering of youth and young adults 15-19 years of age regardless of nationalities, cultural or religious background, to share their passion in astronomy and together learn and experience various aspects of astronomy together. This youth camp is aimed to promote early interest and appreciation in science for young adults of all nationalities and to allow for limited experience to visit some of the world’s most advanced astronomical research facilities right here in the Southeast Asian Region.
This is the fourth time the AAC has been held, and the first to return after 6 years of absence. This latest edition of the camp is under the direction of the International Training Centre in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA), the only Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO with the focus on Astronomy, and in alignment with the goals of the Southeast Asia Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SEAROAD), both of which are offices operated by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT).
The camp was widely well received with over 317 applicants from many countries around Asia. The final roster of the camp came down to 42 participants from over 11 nationalities: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Japan. The camp is rich with many engaging activities such as basic to stargazing, Celestial Sphere, Constellation Maker workshop, Make a comet workshop, Planet Walk, Powers of Ten card game, Multiwavelength astronomy, Cryogenic show, and telescope operations.
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| Make a comet workshop | Constellation Maker workshop |
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| Telescope operations | Stargazing |
Moreover, participants get the rare opportunity to visit many of Thailand’s astronomical research and engineering facilities. This includes Southeast Asia’s largest optical and second largest optical telescope at Thai National Observatory (TNO) atop Doi Inthanon at 2.4m and 1.0m, respectively. Visiting the Thai National Radio Observatory (TNRO) and the 40m and 13m dish. Touring around many engineering facilities within Princess Sirindhorn Astropark and experience firsthand how engineers work together with astronomers to develop instruments to push beyond the current boundary of technology, observe within the clean room new spacecraft and payload to orbit the Earth and the Moon, see the mirror coating machine that will coat all 6,000 of mirrors involved in the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), and many other in-house production, software development and machining facilities that made all these possible.
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| Princess Sirindhorn Astropark | Advanced Innovation Center |
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| Thai National Radio Observatory (TNRO) | Thai National Observatory (TNO) |
However, the highlight of the camp and most important aspect of all is the opportunities in which multinational youths with different cultural and religious background get to spend time together, operating their own dobsonian telescope gazing into the spectacles of the sky atop Thailand’s highest peak.
“Thailand has experienced an unprecedented period of rapid growth both in astronomical research infrastructure and in terms of public appreciation in astronomy.” Dr. Matipon Tangmatitham, the Director of ITCA said, “NARIT spent less than 2 decades from nothing to now we have many of the southeast asia’s largest telescopes, partners of many multinational collaborations, and we have among the most extensive public engagement infrastructures in terms of astronomy, servicing up to 1.6 million Thai nationals in the last fiscal year. We were the latest recipient of the IAU’s ODE outreach prize award for our work in astronomy outreach. We know what it’s like building everything from the ground up. It is time for us to share what we have learned to our neighbors, in the same way we have received help along the way in the past.”
“There are still many youths and young adults in neighboring countries that do not have access to basic astronomy structures like ours do. Many do not have astronomical observatories in their home country, some cannot even observe the night sky from their hometown. For many participating youths, AAC offers a unique experience in which they could explore the topic of astronomy in which they share a deep passion.” Matipon expanded. “Moreover, bringing young adults from many cultural, religious, and demographical backgrounds together to share and explore their mutual passion is perhaps one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences we could provide them with.”
The overall atmosphere within the camp was lively, with participants able to bond really well and rather quickly, despite the language and cultural differences. Many made new memories, experiences, inspiration on which they will take with them, and many new international friends along the way. “I love to see how you guys introduce astronomy to the students with passion and a lot of fun for it. I'm so excited how you made students "wow". Love it," "Thanks for the super careful preparation and fully-charged energy during the whole camp," "This will be one of my most memorable experiences,” said some of the participants. “This camp carries a special meaning for me. I attended the camp 6 years ago and now I get to come back not only bringing my students, but also as a mother being able to accompany my son and provide him with such an experience,” said one of the official observers, bursting with tears.
The AAC will return in the following years and is aimed to provide more multicultural experiences in which all participants can share and further their passions in astronomy.