For 4 days from February 24 to 27, 2015, an External Review Committee consisting of 13 domestic and international specialists (Committee Chair: Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Professor at University of Oxford, UK) conducted an international external review for the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan at Mitaka Campus. The report from the committee was compiled in English on August 21, 2015. Now, the booklet “National Astronomical Observatory of Japan 2015 External Review Report” including supplemental background information about the committee and NAOJ has been completed, and the PDF version is available to the public on this website.

At the beginning of the “Executive Summary” the External Review Committee states, “The most significant development of the last five years must be the growing and highly successful Japanese participation in major international astronomical projects. This is good for astronomy worldwide and we believe good for Japan also. That Japan is now playing an international leadership role (e.g. in TMT) is an excellent development.” So it can be said that NAOJ’s recent activities are highly valued.

NAOJ Director General Dr. Masahiko Hayashi said, “From this point of view, it is genuinely gratifying to have received the above comment in this external review.”

NAOJ will continue to actively offer open use and collaborative research, and we will contribute to the advancement of astronomy in Japan and around the world.

2015 External Review Report
（PDF/2MB）

* We apologize in advance for the parts of this booklet written in Japanese only.

Link

• Statements & Reports