The Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (name in Russian: Институт прикладной астрономии — official name in Russian: Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Институт прикладной астрономии Российской академии наук (Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences) — abbreviated name in Russian: ИПА РАН — abbreviated name in English: IAA RAS) is one of the world's largest astronomical institutes, known for research in ephemeris astronomy, classical and relativistic celestial mechanics, radio astronomy and radio interferometry, space geodesy, fundamental coordinate-time support, and development of new methods in astrometry and geodynamics.
The institute was formed on November 13, 1987 by the order number 941 of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
In 2012 the type and full name of the institute was changed to Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Институт прикладной астрономии Российской академии наук (Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences), by resolution number 262, dated December 13, 2011, of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
IAA RAS publishes Russian and international astronomical yearbooks and almanacs containing ephemerides of the Sun, Moon, planets,[4] minor planets,[5] and stars, calculated with maximum accuracy in accordance with the standards approved by the International Astronomical Union.
The divisions of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences are located in four constituent entities of the Russian Federation: (St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Republic of Buryatia).