• 천문학회보
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.42.1-42.1
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• 2018

Deep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern Sky (DEEP-South) observation is being made during the off-season for exoplanet survey, using Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). An optimal combination of its prime focus optics and the 0.3 billion pixel CCD provides a four square degrees field of view with 0.4 arcsec/pixel plate scale which is also best suited for small body studies. Normal operation of KMTNet started in October 2015, and a significant portion of the allocated telescope time for DEEP-South is dedicated to targeted observation, Opposition Census (OC), of near-Earth asteroids for physical and taxonomic characterization. This is effectively achieved through multiband, time series photometry using Johnson-Cousins BVRI filters. Uninterrupted monitoring of the southern sky with KMTNet is optimized for spin characterization of a broad spectrum of asteroids ranging from the near-Earth space to the main-belt, including binaries, asteroids with satellites, slow/fast- and non-principal axis-rotators, and thus is expected to facilitate the debiasing of previously reported lightcurve observations. Our software subsystem consists of an automated observation scheduler, a pipelined data processing system for differential photometry, and an easy-to-use lightcurve analysis toolkit. Lightcurves, spin periods and provisional determination of class of asteroids to which the lightcurve belongs will be presented, using the dataset from first year operation of KMTNet. Our new taxonomic classification scheme for asteroids will also be summarized.

• 천문학회지
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2016

We present an optical imaging survey of AKARI Deep Field South (ADF-S) using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), to find optical counterparts of dusty star-forming galaxies. The ADF-S is a deep far-infrared imaging survey region with AKARI covering around 12 deg², where the deep optical imaging data are not yet available. By utilizing the wide-field capability of the KMTNet telescopes (~4 deg²), we obtain optical images in B, R and I bands for three regions. The target depth of images in B, R and I bands is ~24 mag (AB) at 5σ, which enables us to detect most dusty star-forming galaxies discovered by AKARI in the ADF-S. Those optical datasets will be helpful to constrain optical spectral energy distributions as well as to identify rare types of dusty star-forming galaxies such as dust-obscured galaxy, sub-millimeter galaxy at high redshift.

• 천문학논총
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2016

We have constructed a wide-field photometric survey system called as the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) in 2015. It consists of three 1.6 m optical telescopes equipped with mosaic CCD cameras. Four 9k CCDs were installed on the focal plane of each telescope. In this paper, we present the crosstalk analysis of the KMTNet mosaic CCD images. The crosstalk victims caused by bright sources were visible at eight sub-images obtained through different readout ports of each CCD. The crosstalk coefficients were estimated to be several tens of $10^{-4}$ in maximum, differing from sub-image to sub-image, and the non-linearity effect certainly appeared at the victims made from saturated sources. We developed software functions to correct the crosstalk effect of the KMTNet CCD images. The software functions showed satisfying results to remove clearly most of the crosstalk victims and have been implemented in the KMTNet image processing pipeline since 2015 September.

• 천문학회보
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.75.4-76
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• 2016

DEEP-South (Deep Ecliptic patrol of the Southern sky) is one of the secondary science projects of KMTNet (Korea Microlensing Telescope Network). The objective of this project is twofold, the physical characterization and the discovery of small Solar System bodies, focused on NEOs (Near Earth objects). In order to achieve the goals, we are implementing a software package to detect and report moving objects in the $18k{\times}18k$ mosaic CCD images of KMTNet. In this paper, we present preliminary results of the moving object detection experiments using the prototype MODP (Moving Object Detection Program). We utilize multiple images that are being taken at three KMTNet sites, towards the same target fields (TFs) obtained at different epochs. This prototype package employs existing softwares such as SExtractor (Source-Extracto) and SCAMP (Software for Calibrating Astrometry and Photometry); SExtractor generates catalogs, while SCAMP conducts precision astrometric calibration, then MODP determines if a point source is moving. We evaluated the astrometric accuracy and efficiency of the current version of MODP. The plan for upgrading MODP will also be mentioned.

• 천문학회보
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.55.2-56
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• 2016

The spin states of asteroids is regarded as an important clue to understand not only the physical property of an individual object but also the dynamical evolution of the of the population as a whole. Single asteroids can be broadly classified into two separate groups according to their rotational states; Principal Axis (PA) and Non-Principal Axis (NPA) rotators. To date, lightcurve observations have been carried out mostly for PA asteroids. However, discovery of NPA objects has recently been increased due to new observing techniques, and this is the reason why rotational properties of NPA rotators became an issue. As a DEEP-South pilot study for NPA, we selected two targets, 5247 Krolv (1982 UP6) and 14764 Kilauea (7072 P-L) considering their Principal Axis Rotation (PAR) code and visibility. Observations were made between Jan. and Feb. 2016 for 17 nights employing Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) 1.6 m telescopes installed at SSO and SAAO using DEEP-South TO (Target of Opportunity) mode. To obtain lightcurves, we conducted time-series photometry using Johnson-Cousins R-filter. Multi-band photometry was also made with BVRI filters at the same time, for taxonomy. Their preliminary lightcurves and approximate mineralogy will be presented.

• 천문학회보
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.54.2-54.2
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• 2016

Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) is the first optical survey system of its kind in a way that three KMTNet observatories are longitudinally well-separated, and thus have the benefit of 24-hour continuous monitoring of the southern sky. The wide-field and round-the-clock operation capabilities of this network facility are ideal for survey and the physical characterization of small Solar System bodies. We obtain their orbits, absolute magnitudes (H), three dimensional shape models, spin periods and spin states, activity levels based on the time-series broadband photometry. Their approximate surface mineralogy is also identified using colors and band slopes. The automated observation scheduler, the data pipeline, the dedicated computing facility, related research activity and the team members are collectively called 'DEEP-South' (DEep Ecliptic Patrol of Southern sky). DEEP-South observation is being made during the off-season for exoplanet search, yet part of the telescope time is shared in the period between when the Galactic bulge rises early in the morning and sets early in the evening. We present here the observation mode, strategy, software, test runs, early results, and the future plan of DEEP-South.

• 천문학회보
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.44.4-45
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• 2018

(4179) Toutatis (Toutatis hereafter) is one of the Near-Earth Asteroids which has been studied most rigorously not only via ground-based photometric, spectroscopic, polarimetric, and radar observations, but also via the in-situ observation by the Chinese Chang'e-2 spacecraft. However, one of the most fundamental physical properties, the geometric albedo, is less determined. In order to derive the reliable geometric albedo and further study the physical condition on the surface, we made photometric observations of Toutatis near the opposition (i.e., the opposite direction from the Sun). We thus observed it for four days on 2018 April 7-13 using three 1.6-m telescopes, which consist of the Korean Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). Since the asteroid has a long rotational period (5.38 and 7.40 days from Chang'e-2, Zhao et al., 2015), the continuous observations with KMTNet matches the purpose of our photometric study of the asteroid. The observed data cover the phase angle (Sun-asteroid-observer's angle) of 0.65-2.79 degree. As a result, we found that the observed data exhibited the magnitude changes with an amplitude of ~0.8 mag. We calculated the time-variable geometrical cross-section using the radar shape model (Hudson & Ostro 1995), and corrected the effect from the observed data to derive the geometric albedo. In this presentation, we will present our photometric results. In addition, we will discuss about the regolith particles size together with the polarimetric properties based on the laboratory measurements of albedo-polarization maximum.

• 천문학회지
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.71-82
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• 2019

We derive the geometric albedo of a near-Earth asteroid, (4179) Toutatis, to investigate its surface physical conditions. The asteroid has been studied rigorously not only via ground-based photometric, spectrometric, polarimetric, and radar observations but also via in situ observation by the Chinese Chang'e-2 space probe; however, its geometric albedo is not well understood. We conducted V-band photometric observations when the asteroid was at opposition in April 2018 using the three telescopes in the southern hemisphere that compose the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). The observed time-variable cross section was corrected using the radar shape model. We find that Toutatis has a geometric albedo $p_V=0.185^{+0.045}_{-0.039}$, which is typical of S-type asteroids. We compare the geometric albedo with archival polarimetric data and further find that the polarimetric slope-albedo law provides a reliable estimate for the albedo of this S-type asteroid. The thermal infrared observation also produced similar results if the size of the asteroid is updated to match the results from Chang'e-2. We conjecture that the surface of Toutatis is covered with grains smaller than that of the near-Sun asteroids including (1566) Icarus and (3200) Phaethon.

• 천문학회보
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.63.3-63.3
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• 2019

Active asteroids are celestial bodies that distinctively have asteroid-like orbital elements but show comet-like activity. They exhibit the activities due to the sublimation of volatile ices, impacts with small objects or break-up by rapid rotations. As of 2019 February, 30 active asteroids are detected in the outer main belt (i.e., the semimajor axes a>2.5 au) while only 3 of them in the inner main belt (a<2.5 au), suggesting that sublimation of remaining icy volatiles can be one of the most fundamental mechanisms for the activities. A sudden activity of (6478) Gault was reported in early 2019. The asteroid was discovered in 1988 and has exhibited its inactive appearance until the end of last year. Soon after the report, we have conducted imaging observations using the Seoul National University Observatory 1.0-m telescope and the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) to monitor the activity. The observed images showed a primary dust tail that consists of dust grains ejected early November in 2018. Later, another tail developed, indicating further dust ejection occurred around late December 2018. Our model simulation to reproduce the morphology of the dust cloud suggests that the slightly-curved primary dust tail results from a continuous dust ejection over weeks. The total mass of ejecta was estimated to XX kg (XX% of the asteroid mass). Such continuous dust ejection for the inner active asteroids was unexpected because ice might have already sublimated from subsurfaces of inner main belt. Based on our observational evidence, we will discuss how inner asteroids are activated and eject dust continuously.

• 천문학회보
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.80.1-80.1
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• 2019

Photometric investigations of asteroids allow us to determine their rotation states and shape models (Apostolovska et al. 2014). Our main target, asteroid (2078) Nanking's perihelion distance (q) is 1.480 AU, which belongs to the Mars-crossing asteroid (1.3 < q < 1.66 AU). Mars-crossing asteroids are objects that cross the orbit of Mars and regarded as one of the primary sources of near-Earth asteroids due to the unstable nature of their orbits. We present the analysis of the spin parameters and 3D shape model of (2078) Nanking. We conducted Cousins_R-band time-series photometry of this asteroid from November 26, 2014 to January 17, 2015 at the Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory (SOAO) and for 25 nights from March to April 2016 using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) to reconstruct its physical model with our dense photometric datasets. Using the lightcurve inversion method (Kaasalainen & Torppa 2001; Kaasalainen et al. 2001), we determine the pole orientation and shape model of this object based on our lightcurves along with the archival data obtained from the literatures. We derived rotational period of 6.461 h, the preliminary ecliptic longitude (${\lambda}_p$) and latitude (${\beta}_p$) of its pole as ${\lambda}_p{\sim}8^{\circ}$ and ${\beta}_p{\sim}-52^{\circ}$ which indicates a retrograde rotation of the body. From the apparent W UMa-shaped lightcurve and its location in the rotation frequency-amplitude plot of Sheppard and Jewitt (2004), we suspect the contact binary nature of the body (Choi 2016).