National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

, also known as NAOJ,NAOJ is an English acronym. NAOJ stands for "National Astronomical Observatory of Japan". is a Japanese astronomy research organization.  NAOJ has several facilities in Japan; and it has an observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

History
NAOJ was established in 1988.National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), History ; retrieved 2012-8-12.  Three institutions merged.  They were the 
 Tokyo Astronomical Observatory of the University of Tokyo
 International Latitude Observatory of Mizusawa
 Research Institute of Atmospherics of Nagoya University.

In 2004, NAOJ became part of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS).  NINS was created to promote collaboration among researchers of the five constituent institutes.National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), About the NINS ; retrieved 2012-8-12. NAOJ merged with four other national institutes.  They were
 National Institute for Basic Biology 
 National Institute for Fusion Science
 National Institute for Physiological Sciences
 Institute for Molecular Science

Timeline
 1888 	Tokyo Astronomical Observatory was established by the University of Tokyo
 1899 	Latitude Observatory was established in Mizusawa.
 1908 	Astronomical Society of Japan established.
 1949 	Nobeyama University Atmospheric Research Center established
 1960 	Okayama Astrophysical Observatory established
 1981 	Hinotori satellite launched
 1988 	NAOJ established
 1992 	Nobeyama Radio Heliograph began observations
 1996 	Introduction and open use of super computers
 1997 	HALCA satellite launched
 1999 	Subaru Telescope begain working on Mauna Kea in Hawaii
 2004 	NAOJ merged into NINS
 2006 	Ishigakishima Obervatory established, Akari satellite  launched
 2007 	Kaguya satellite launched

Locations
Mitaka Campus at Mitaka, Tokyo 
The Headquarters, Astronomy Data Center, Advanced Technology Center, Public Relations Center
Solar Flare Telescope, Sunspot Telescope, TAMA 300 gravitational wave detector
Tokyo Photoelectric Meridian Circle
Historical instruments: Solar Tower Telescope, 65cm refractor dome, 20cm refractor dome 

Nobeyama Radio Observatory & Nobeyama Solar Radio Observatory at Minamimaki, Nagano 
45m Millimeter Radio Telescope, Nobeyama Millimeter Array, Nobeyama Radio Heliograph

Mizusawa VERA Observatory at Ōshū, Iwate. 
20m radio telescope, 10m VLBI radio telescope

Historical building: Dr. Kimura Museum

Norikura Solar Observatory at Mount Norikura, Nagano 
10cm Coronagraph, 25cm Coronagraph

Okayama Astrophysical Observatory at Mount Chikurinji, Okayama. 
188cm telescope, 91cm telescope, 65cm Coude-Type solar telescope

VERA 20m radio telescopes
Mizusawa
Ogasawara. 
Iriki. 
Ishigakijima.  

Hawaii Observatory on the island of Hawaii
Subaru 8m telescope (Mauna Kea) 
Hilo Base Facility (Hilo, Hawaii). 

Projects

 Hinode
 SELENE

Gallery

Related pages
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

References

Other websites

National Astronomical Observatory Of Japan website 

Category:Astronomical observatories
Category:1988 establishments in Japan
Category:Scientific organizations based in Japan