VGOS Bosscha Observatory: Advancing Indonesia’s Role in Global Astronomy and Geodesy

Indonesia has reached a significant milestone in astronomical and geodetic research with the installation of its first Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Global Observing System (VGOS) radio telescope. Located at the Bosscha Observatory in Lembang, Bandung, the facility is designed to enhance the country’s scientific capacity in radio astronomy and Earth observation.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO), which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

On July 9, 2025, a major lift operation was conducted to install the telescope’s main component, an 85-ton antenna. The installation was performed using a large crane and marked the final phase of the project’s structural construction. With the antenna now in place, the total height of the VGOS telescope building is 19 meters.

Technical Capabilities and Global Integration

The VGOS is a global network of synchronized radio telescopes that observe cosmic radio sources with high precision. By combining data from multiple stations across the world, the system allows for the accurate measurement of distances between specific points on Earth.

This precision enables researchers to perform critical geodetic tasks, including the monitoring of continental drift. Specifically, the system can measure the speed of tectonic plate movements and the changes in distance between these plates over time.

Beyond tectonic monitoring, the VGOS facility contributes to several other high-precision scientific goals:

• Establishing and maintaining highly accurate terrestrial and celestial reference frames.
• Providing precise astronomical time scales.
• Monitoring the potential impacts of climate change.
• Detecting the movement of specific points on the Earth’s surface.

To support this multidisciplinary research, the telescope will be further equipped with a holometry antenna, a weather station, and a GNSS receiver.

Strategic Collaboration and Framework

The construction of the radio telescope is part of a broader bilateral partnership between China and Indonesia. The project falls under the Cooperation Plan on Jointly Promoting Cooperation within the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Maritime Fulcrum, an agreement signed by the two nations on November 16, 2022.

For ITB, the facility represents a commitment to advancing modern geodesy and astronomy. The integration into the global VGOS network reinforces Indonesia’s role and contribution to the international scientific community.