• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2015

The Galactic center uniquely provides opportunities to resolve how star clusters form in neutral gas overdensities engulfed in a large-scale accretion flow. We have performed sensitive Green Bank 100m Telescope (GBT), Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), and Submillimeter Array (SMA) mapping observations of molecular gas and thermal dust emission surrounding the Galaxy's supermassive black hole (SMBH) Sgr $A^{\ast}$. We resolved several molecular gas streams orbiting the center on ${\gtrsim}10$ pc scales. Some of these gas streams appear connected to the well-known 2-4 pc scale molecular circumnuclear disk (CND). The CND may be the tidally trapped inner part of the large-scale accretion flow, which incorporates inflow via exterior gas filaments/arms, and ultimately feeds gas toward Sgr $A^{\ast}$. Our high resolution GBT+JVLA $NH_3$ images and SMA+JCMT 0.86 mm dust continuum image consistently reveal abundant dense molecular clumps in this region. These gas clumps are characterized by ${\gtrsim}100$ times higher virial masses than the derived molecular gas masses based on 0.86 mm dust continuum emission. In addition, Class I $CH_3OH$ masers and some $H_2O$ masers are observed to be well associated with the dense clumps. We propose that the resolved gas clumps may be pressurized gas reservoirs for feeding the formation of 1-10 solar-mass stars. These sources may be the most promising candidates for ALMA to probe the process of high-mass star-formation in the Galactic center.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.107.1-107.1
• /
• 2012

We present the results of far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) obtained with Far-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (FIMS) on board the Korean microsatellite STSAT-1, which operated at an altitude of 700 km in a sun-synchronous orbit. FIMS is a dual-channel imaging spectrograph (S channel 900-1150 ${\AA}$, L channel 1350-1750 ${\AA}$, ${\lambda}/{\Delta}{\lambda}$ ~ 550) with large image fields of view (S: $4^{\circ}.0{\times}4^{\prime}.6$, L: $7^{\circ}.5{\times}4^{\prime}.3$, angular resolution 5'-10') optimized for the observation of diffuse emission of astrophysical radiation. Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was observed with a scanning survey mode when it was located around the perihelion between 8 and 15 May 2004. Several important emission lines were detected including S I (1425, 1474 ${\AA}$), C I (1561, 1657 ${\AA}$) and several emission lines of CO $A^1{\Pi}-X^1{\Sigma}^+$ system in the L channel. Production rates of the notable molecules, such as C I, S I and CO, were estimated from the photon fluxes of these spectral lines and compared with previous observations. We compare the flux and the production rates in the radius of $3{\times}10^5$ km with $20{\times}10^5$ km from the central coma. We obtained L-channel image which have map size $5^{\circ}{\times}5^{\circ}$ The image was constructed for the wavelength band of L-channel (1350 - 1710 ${\AA}$. We also present the radial profiles of S I, C I, CO obtained from the spectral images of the central coma. The radial profiles of $2{\times}10^6$ km region are compared with the Haser model.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.76-76
• /
• 2011

The SPICA (SPace Infrared Telescope for Cosmology & Astrophysics) project is a next-generation astronomical mission optimized for mid- and far-infrared observation with a cryogenically cooled 3m-class telescope. Due to its high angular resolution and unprecedented sensitivity, SPICA will enable us to resolve many key issues from the star-formation history of the universe to the planetary formation. As an international collaboration, KASI proposed the near-infrared instrument which is composed of two parts; (1) science observation with the capability of imaging and spectroscopy covering $0.7{\mu}m$ to $5{\mu}m$ (FPC-S) (2) fine guiding to stabilize and improve the attitude (FPC-G). Here, we present the current status of SPICA/FPC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
• /
• v.2
• /
• pp.267-270
• /
• 2006

The International GNSS Service (IGS) has managed the global GNSS network and provided the highest quality GNSS data and products, which are GPS ephemerides, clock information and Earth orientation parameter, as the standard for GNSS. An important part of its works is to provide the precise orbits of GPS satellites. GPS satellites send their orbit information (broadcast ephemerides) to users and their accuracies are approximately 1.6 meters level, but those accuracies are not sufficient for the high precise applications which require millimeters precision. The current accuracies of the IGS final orbits are within 5 centimeters level and they are used for Earth science, meteorology, space science, and they are made by the IGS analysis centers and combined by the IGS analysis center coordinator. The techniques making the products are very difficult and require the high technology. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) studies to make the IGS products. In this study, we developed our own processing strategy and made GPS ephemerides using Bernese GPS software Ver. 5.0. We used the broadcast ephemerides as the initial orbits and processed the globally distributed 150 IGS stations. The result shows about 6 to 8 centimeters in root-mean-squares related to IGS final orbits in each day during a week. We expect that this study can contribute to secure our own high technology.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2009

We estimated the receiver and satellite differential code bias(DCB) based on the ionospheric total electron content(TEC) estimation method. The GPS network which has been operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute(KASI) was designed to calculate TEC. The receiver and satellite DCB values were obtained from the weighted least square method with time interval for one hour. The results represented that the receiver DCB values are mostly varying within ${\pm}2m$ meter and are derived comparatively stable within three days. The estimated mean values of the satellite DCB show the maximum and minimum values of 4.09 nano-second(ns), -6.28ns respectively. We could detect great variations of TEC over 9 TECU difference at any time when the DCB sets were applied to TEC estimation.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.253-261
• /
• 2018

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) has been developing the space optical and laser tracking (SOLT) system for space geodesy, space situational awareness, and Korean space missions. The SOLT system comprises satellite laser ranging (SLR), adaptive optics (AO), and debris laser tracking (DLT) systems, which share numerous subsystems, such as an optical telescope and tracking mount. It is designed to be capable of laser ranging up to geosynchronous Earth orbit satellites with a laser retro-reflector array, space objects imaging brighter than magnitude 10, and laser tracking low Earth orbit space debris of uncooperative targets. For the realization of multiple functions in a novel configuration, the SOLT system employs a switching mirror that is installed inside the telescope pedestal and feeds the beam path to each system. The SLR and AO systems have already been established at the Geochang station, whereas the DLT system is currently under development and the AO system is being prepared for testing. In this study, the design and development of the SOLT system are addressed and the SLR data quality is evaluated compared to the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) tracking stations in terms of single-shot ranging precision. The analysis results indicate that the SLR system has a good ranging performance, to a few millimeters precision. Therefore, it is expected that the SLR system will not only play an important role as a member of the ILRS tracking network, but also contribute to future Korean space missions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.9
• /
• pp.771-780
• /
• 2021

The space Debris laser ranging system is called to be a definite type of satellite laser ranging system that measures the distance to satellites. It is a system that performs POD (Precise Orbit Determination) by measuring time of flight by firing a laser. Distance precision can be measured in mm-level units, and it is the most precise system among existing systems. Currently, KASI has built SLR in Sejong and Geochang, and utilized SLR data to verify the precise orbits of the STSAT-2C and KOMASAT-5. In recent years, due to the fall or collision of space debris, its satellites have been threatened, and in terms of security, laser tracking of space objects is receiving great interest in order to protect their own space assets and protect the safety of the people. In this paper, a 1.5m-class main mirror was applied for the system design of a multipurpose laser tracking system that considers satellite laser ranging and space object laser tracking. System preliminary performance analysis was performed based on Link Budget analysis considering specifications of major components.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) and Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI) have been participating in the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Scientific Association as an affiliate institution in order to observe the polar ionosphere since 2015. During the period of December 16-21, 2016 and January 3-9, 2018, the observations for the polar ionospheric parameters such as the electron density profiles, ion drift, and electron/ion temperature are carried out in the polar cap/cusp region by the EISCAT Svalbard radar (ESR). The purpose of the observations is to investigate the characteristic of the winter ionosphere in the dayside polar cap/cusp region. In this paper, we briefly report the results of the ESR observations for winter daytime ionosphere and also the simultaneous observations for the ionosphere-thermosphere system together with the balloon-borne instrument High-Altitude Interferometer WIND Experiment (HIWIND) performed by the High Altitude Observatory (HAO), National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). We further introduce our research activities using long-term EISCAT observations for the occurrence of ion upflow and the climatology of the polar ionospheric density profiles in comparison with the mid-latitude ionosphere. Finally, our future research plans will briefly be introduced.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.57.2-57.2
• /
• 2021

Variability in Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) can be caused by time-dependent accretion rates, geometric changes in the circumstellar disks, the stochastic hydromagnetic interactions between stellar surfaces and inner disk edges, reconnections within the stellar magnetosphere, and hot/cold spots on stellar surfaces. We uncover ~1400 variables from a sample of ~5300 YSOs in nearby low-mass star-forming regions using mid-IR light curves obtained from the 5.5-years NEOWISE All Sky Survey. The mid-IR variability traces a wide range of dynamical, physical, and geometrical phenomenon. We classify six types of YSO variability based on their light curves: secular variability (Linear, Curved, Periodic) and stochastic variability (Burst, Drop, Irregular). YSOs in earlier evolutionary stages have higher fractions of variables at all types and higher amplitudes for the variability. Along with brightness variability, we also find a diverse range of secular color variations, which can be attributed to a competitive interplay between the variable accretion luminosity of the central source and the variable extinction by material associated with the accretion process. We compare the variability of known FUors/EXors and VeLLOs/LLSs, which represent two extreme ends (burst versus quiescent) of the episodic accretion process; FUors/EXors have a higher fraction of variables (65%) than VeLLOs/LLSs (41%). Short-term (few day) and long-term (decades) variability, as well as possible AGB contamination in the YSO catalogues, are also discussed.molecules become more complex by surface chemistry induced directly by high energy photons or by the thermal energy diffused over heated grain surface. Therefore, the ice composition is an

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.40.3-41
• /
• 2021

Minor mergers leave behind long lived, but extremely faint and extended tidal features including tails, streams, loops and plumes. These act as a fossil record for the host galaxy's past interactions, allowing us to infer recent accretion histories and place constraints on the properties and nature of a galaxy's dark matter halo. However, shallow imaging or small homogeneous samples of past surveys have resulted in weak observational constraints on the role of galaxy mergers and interactions in galaxy assembly. The Rubin Observatory, which is optimised to deliver fast, wide field-of-view imaging, will enable deep and unbiased observations over the 18,000 square degrees of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), resulting in samples of potentially of millions of objects undergoing tidal interactions. Using realistic mock images produced with state-of-the-art cosmological simulations we perform a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the extended diffuse light around galaxies and galaxy groups down to low stellar mass densities. We consider the nature, frequency and visibility of tidal features and debris across a range of environments and stellar masses as well as their reliability as an indicator of galaxy accretion histories. We consider how observational biases such as projection effects, the point-spread-function and survey depth may effect the proper characterisation and measurement of tidal features, finding that LSST will be capable of recovering much of the flux found in the outskirts of L* galaxies at redshifts beyond local volume. In our simulated sample, tidal features are ubiquitous In L* galaxies and remain common even at significantly lower masses (M*>10^10 Msun). The fraction of stellar mass found in tidal features increases towards higher masses, rising to 5-10% for the most massive objects in our sample (M*~10^11.5 Msun). Such objects frequently exhibit many distinct tidal features often with complex morphologies, becoming increasingly numerous with increased depth. The interpretation and characterisation of such features can vary significantly with orientation and imaging depth. Our findings demonstrate the importance of accounting for the biases that arise from projection effects and surface-brightness limits and suggest that, even after the LSST is complete, much of the discovery space in low surface-brightness Universe will remain to be explored.