The 3rd Regional Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia is taking place at the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) branch office in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. In addition to ILOA, the event is co-organized by the Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB). Faculty of the Department of Astronomy at ITB have been a key factor in the development of the regional SEA Galaxy Forum program. Indonesia, the world’s 4th most populous country, is building 21st Century capabilities and investing in the future of Astronomy and Astronautics to the immediate benefit of students in every class across the archipelago. Scientists at the Bosscha Observatory, ITB and others, continue with plans to construct a 2.5-m class telescope and a 1-m radio telescope at Mount Timau or Mount Rinjani. LAPAN is planning to complete work on a Space Port and Launch Center at Morotai Island by 2025. This complex is to act as the test site and future operational base of the LAPAN experimental satellite launcher. Last year the Rocket Technology Center conducted a successful static test of the RX 320 booster generating thrust of up to 4.9 tons. This is one of two rockets that will form the building blocks of the 4 stage orbital satellite rocket Roket Pengorbit Satelit (RPS) that is currently in development.

1. NATIONAL OBSERVATORY: A
PROPOSAL
(ASTRONOMY AND RELATED
SCIENCES)
Mahasena Putra
and National Observatory Planning Team
Galaxy Forum Indonesia 2015,
LAPAN, Bandung, February 21, 2015

2. BOSSCHA OBSERVATORY - ITB: 1923
Initially only optical telescopes
National Heritage (2004)
National Vital Object (2008)

3. Background
 Bosscha Observatory is 91 years old; still the
only one in Indonesia; needs extension,
modernisation, etc.
 Lembang has grown into a “city”; lots of
environmental problems
 Extension/development on national level; a
world class facility
 Bosscha Observatory, due to its historical role
will remain as the ‘homebase’ of Indonesia
Astronomy: education, instrumentation
development, etc.

4. Why the term “National” Observatory?
 Astronomy has gained serious enthusiasm nationally
 Astronomical observatory can have social role: new
moon, NEO survey, timekeeping, geodesy...
 Can serve multydisciplinary research activity
 Stimulating astronomy development in Indonesia.
Puts Indonesia astronomy into the global map.
 Preparing Indonesia’s participation to large
multinational projects in the future (E-ELT, TMT, …)
 Reaching critical mass of astronomers; a playground
for next generation of Indonesia astronomy
 Stimulating educational development in eastern
Indonesia

5. Legal Foundation
Legislation of Republic of Indonesia No. 21,
2013, on Outer Space/Outer Space Activity
 Master outer space/outer space activity,
including astrophysics
 Had been prepared and proposed by LAPAN

6. What have been done?
Since 2007:
 Site selection: site survey, site characterization,
site testing (3-8 tahun)
 Public outreach: UNAWE, astronomy olympiads,
astro-camp, star party, teachers training, etc.
 National program: New moon crescent sighting
 Astroclimatology: continuous study of weather,
climate, and other parameters relevant to
astronomical site

7. TO THE EAST!
Site selection and evaluation:
More than 30 highlands have been studied

8. Clear sky fraction
Meteorological satellite data, 1996 – 2010 (GMS5, GOES9, MTSAT1R) Hidayat et al. 20

9. Mount Timau

10. Timor Expedition 7 (17 Sept. 2009)
Fatumetan (Lelogama), 123 59' 17.1'' E, 9 40' 35.9'' S, 1028 m
Timau summit

11. Expedition 14 (Juni 2014)

12. Timau Site

13. Collaboration
 Between faculties in ITB: FMIPA, FITB, STEI,
SITH, SAPPK, FTMD
 Nusa Cendana University, Kupang
 Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa
Nasional (LAPAN)
 Expected future collaboration: other interested
universities and institutions, e.g. Kemenag,
BMKG, BIG, etc.
 ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH NATIONAL
COLLABORATION

14. Planned Facilities
 A 3m class optical telescope, and some
smaller ones, in mount Timau
 A Parabolic radio telescope and dipole array,
in mount Timau
 Other instruments (still discussed…)
 A headquarter around Kupang
 Science Center for Science Education around
Kupang

20. An Example of Multi-purpose Observatory:
MIT – Haystack Observatory
Westford, MA, near Boston, Coordinates: 42.6233°N 71.4882°W, Altitude:131
meters.
Haystack Observatory is an interdisciplinary research center of the MIT
focused on radio astronomy, geodesy, and atmospheric science (MIT Lincoln
Laboratory).

21. NARIT’s Headquarter, Chiang Mai, Thailand

22. Thai National Observatory (TNO 2.4m)
Nasional Park Doi Inthanon 2447m

23. Thank you…
Terima Kasih…