• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-279
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• 2015

Future space missions will have larger telescopes in order to look deeper into space while improvising on spatial resolution. The primary mirrors for these telescopes will be so large that using a monolithic mirror will be nearly impossible because of the difficulties associated with its fabrication, transportation, and installation on a launch vehicle. The feasibility of launching these huge mirrors is limited because of their small launch fairing diameter. The aerodynamic shape of the fairing requires a small diameter, but the height of the launch vehicle, which is available for designers to utilize, is larger than the fairing diameter. This paper presents the development of an axial deployment mechanism based on the screw jack principle. The mechanism was designed and developed, and a prototype was constructed in order to demonstrate a lab model.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2018

We report on our Galactic plane searches for magnetars in the archival Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) data. We summarize the properties of known magnetars and use them to establish a procedure for magnetar searches. The procedure includes four steps: source finding, spectral characterization, optical counterpart checks, and period searches. We searched 1,282 archival CXO observations, found 32,838 X-ray sources, and selected 25 intriguing candidates using the developed procedure. Although we do not firmly identify a magnetar among them, we significantly reduced the number of targets in future magnetar searches to be done with better X-ray telescopes.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59.2-59.2
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• 2011

We introduce an ongoing project for monitoring total flux density at 22 and 43GHz, linearly polarized flux, and polarization angle at 22GHz of Gamma-ray bright AGN (Active Galactic Nuclei) with KVN (Korean VLBI Network) 21-m radio telescopes. The project started in May, 2011 with an effective monitoring cycle of 4 days, observing four main objects (3C 454.3, BL Lac, 3C 273, and 3C 279). More objects were included in the source list when they had flared in Gamma-ray. In this paper, we report the current status of the project and preliminary results for the monitoring observations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.58.1-58.1
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• 2016

K-GMT Science Program, operated by Center for Large Telescopes (CfLAT) in Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), aims to promote the scientific researches by providing the access to the observational facilities such as 4-8m class telescopes and specialized instruments. In 2016, we plan to make various instruments with MMT and Gemini Observatory as well as IGRINS with 2.7m HJS Telescope in McDonald Observatory available to Korean Astronomical Community. We will present the current status and future prospect as well as some early results made from the K-GMT Science Program in past years.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.61.1-61.1
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• 2016

As a new way to explore the universe, astronomers are now performing time-domain astronomy by surveying the universe looking for new transient phenomena and taking movies of the universe with telescopes. Large-area, time-series survey of astronomical objects are uncovering many interesting, fast-changing objects that have now been poorly understood before, such as GRBs, tidal disruption phenomena, and new types of supernova. In order to characterize these new, exciting events, it is very critical to perform follow-up observations, and 1-2m telescopes can effectively contribute to such efforts. Since 2007, our group has been performing follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and interesting transients using BOAO and other KASI facilities. Here, we present results from several key transient studies that were done by using BOAO: (1) tidal disruption event Swift J1644+57; (2) SN 2011fe that occurred in M101; and (3) several GRB events. These study demonstrates the usefulness of BOAO as a powerful transient follow-up facility. Finally, we will discuss how BOAO research activities can possibly be bolstered in this newly emerging field of astronomy.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.234.2-234.2
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• 2012

As the accuracy in the measurement of cosmological parameters is ever-increasing in this era of precision cosmology, astrophysical constraints on high-redshift universe is also getting tighter. Three dimensional (3D) tomography of the high-redshift (z>~7) universe is expected to be made through the next-generation radio telescopes including various SKA pathfinders and SKA itself, which calls for extensive theoretical predictions. We present our new simulations of cosmic reionization covering the full dynamic range of radiation sources, and also the mock data for the (1) large-scale CMB polarization anisotropy for Planck mission, (2) small-scale, kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect for South Pole Telescope project, and (3) 21-cm observations. We show that the new constraints on CMB from Planck will constrain the models of reionization significantly, which then should be tested by 3D tomography of high-redshift universe through the 21-cm observations by future radio telescopes.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.29.4-30
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• 2018

Welcome to Gemini! In this overview, I'll describe the governance, operations, and capabilities of the Gemini telescopes. I'll also describe Gemini's vision and plans for the future. Gemini is very adaptable and has multiple ways to apply for time, multiple ways to collect your data, and multiple instrument capabilities ready for your observations. Gemini also runs a wide-reaching program to develop and improve our instrumentation capabilities. We run an upgrade program for our existing instruments that includes an annual public call for proposals, a visitor instrument program that brings instruments like IGRINS to our telescopes for short to semi-permanent runs, and a facility program that provides entirely new instruments like GHOST and SCORPIO to Gemini for full public use. Through these programs, you can interact with Gemini in a number of ways to support your scientific needs in the most efficient way possible.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.35.3-35.3
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• 2019

The new era of multi-messenger astronomy (MMA) has arrived in 2017 with the detection of the binary neutron star merger in both gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic radiation (EM). Now, the new run of GW detectors are providing numerous GW events and the number GW events are expected to increase dramatically in future as the GW sensitivities improve. When the GW studies are combined with EM counterpart observations, a great synergy is expected in many areas of study such as the physical process following the compact object merger, the environment of such events (and galaxy evolution), and cosmology, Therefore, it has now become crucial to identify and characterize these GW events in optical/IR EM. In the past, we have been performing optical/NIR observation of GW events using a worldwide network of more than 10 telescopes, and are getting more actively involved in MMA of GW sources. In this talk, we will present our network of telescopes, the EM follow-up observation results of GW events including GW170817 and the O3 events in 2019, and the current issues in MMA. We will also give the future prospects of MMA, showing the forecast for the GW events and the outlook of EM MMA observations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.60.2-60.2
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• 2019

Based on our experience on exoplanet transit observation, we propose the exoplanet science cases with Small Telescope Network. One is the follow-up observation for validation of exoplanet candidates. TESS(Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) is pouring out exoplanet candidates in bright stars(V<15) on all the sky. Since Small Telescope Network will consist of 0.5-1m telescopes, we will expect to produce promising outcomes from the follow-up observation of bright candidates. Next is the transit time observation. By spectroscopy of space and large telescopes during transit event, it can be possible to find the bio signatures in exoplanet atmosphere. So, in terms of cost, it is critical to determine the exact time of transit event. In addition, detecting the variation of transit time can reveal another exoplanet and exomoon in the system. In order to determine the transit time and its variation, the accumulation of transit event data is more important than the quality of photometric data. We expect that it can be a challenging project of Small Telescope Network.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.48.3-48.3
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• 2021

SomangNet is a project that started in 2020 with a network of ten 0.4 to 1.0 m telescopes owned by Korean institutes. By coordinating observations with multiple facilities around the world, we hope to maximize the usefulness of small telescopes which are still competitive for carrying out time-domain astronomy projects. In this talk, we will give an overview of the project, outlining SomangNet facilities, its organization, and current science projects. We hope to open SomangNet for common use in 2021B, and we will present our plan regarding the use of SomangNet.