National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Thai National Observatory (TNO) is NARIT's main facility, atop Thailand's highest mountain, Doi Inthanon in Doi Inthanon National Park, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province. The concept of a national astronomical research institute was discussed for the first time in the Assembly of the Deans of the Faculty of Science in Thai universities. On July 20, 2004, commemorating His Majesty King Bhumibol's 80th Birthday Anniversary in 2007 and marking the bicentenary of the life and work of King Mongkut the "Father of Thai Science" the government approved the establishment of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), under the
Thanon Thong Chai Range Thanon Thong Chai Range is the southernmost prolongation of the Shan Hills and it consists of two parallel ranges running southwards from the southwestern limits of the Daen Lao Range between rivers Yuam and Ping. The eastern range is also known as Inthanon Range (ทิวเขาอินทนนท์). Often the Dawna Range further west and south is included as the western part of the Thanon Thong Chai Range. There are also some geographers who include the Thanon Thong Chai as a subrange of the Daen Lao Range. Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 metres in the Inthanon Range, is one of the ultra prominent peaks