• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.25-25
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• 2010

With the aim of resolving important physical problems in the chromosphere of the Sun, we developed the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph for several years, and at last successfully installed it in the Coude room of the 1.6 meter New Solar Telescope at Big Bear in 2010 May. The instrument is an Echelle spectrograph with imaging capability based on slit scan, and can record two spectral bands (e.g., H alpha band and Ca II 8542 band) simultaneously. The early runs of the instrument produced data of high quality that are suited for the study of quiet Sun, filaments on the disk, prominences outside the limb, active regions and sunspots. We are ready to do good solar sciences using our own instrument, and will be able to do best sciences with the coming improvement of spatial resolution.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27.2-27.2
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• 2011

The Kepler(NASA) and CoRoT(ESA) space telescopes are surveying thousands of exoplanet for finding Earth-like exoplanets with similar environments of the Earth. Then the TPF(NASA), DARWIN(ESA) and many large-aperture ground telescopes have plan for spectroscopic observations of these earth-like exoplanets in next decades. Now, it has been started to simulate the disk averaged spectra of the earthlike exoplanets for comparing the observed spectra and suggesting solutions of environment of these planets. Previous research, the simulations are based on radiative transfer method, but these are limited by optical models of Earth system and instruments. We introduce a new simulation method, IRT(Integrated Ray Tracing) to overcome limitations of previous method. The 3 components are defined in IRT; 1)Sun model, 2)Earth system model (Atmosphere, Land and Ocean), 3)Instrument model. The ray tracing in IRT is simulated in composed 3D real scale space from inside the sun model to the detector of instrument. The Sun model has hemisphere structure with Lambertian scattering optical model. Atmosphere is composed of 16 distributed structures and each optical model includes BSDF with using 6SV radiative transfer code. Coastline and 5 kinds of vegetation distribution data are used to land model structure, and its non-Lambertian scattering optical model is defined with the semi-empirical "parametric kernel method" used for MODIS(NASA) and POLDER(CNES) missions. The ocean model includes sea ice cap structure with the monthly sea ice area variation, and sea water optical model which is considering non-lambertian sun-glint scattering. Computation of spectral imaging and radiative transfer performance of Earth system model is tested with hypothetical space instrument in IRT model. Then we calculated the disk averaged spectra of the Earth system model in IRT computation model for 8 cases; 4 viewing orientation cases with full illuminated phase, and 4 illuminated phase cases in a viewing orientation. Finally the DAS results are compared with previous researching results of radiative transfer method.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.34.1-34.1
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• 2017

The GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) is the very first light instrument of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). The instrument is a fiber feed, optical band echelle spectrograph that is capable of extremely precise radial velocity measurement, and has been being developed through the international consortium consisted of five astronomical institutes including Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington (OCIW), and Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the G-CLEF was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts in April 2015. It is scheduled to have Critical Design Review (CDR) in March 2018. Flexure Control Camera (FCC) is one of the KASI's major contributions to the G-CLEF project. In this presentation, we describe the current critical design status, and structural and thermo-elastic analyses results on the G-CLEF FCC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explain how extraordinary the scientific technology or our ancestor was from the modern perspective by remodeling the most unique astronomical instrument, So-ganui (小簡儀), developed in the Sejong Period (世宗時代) after being examined with contemporary and the principles of the science and observational technology would be properly understood and measured directly. When measuring the altitude of the sun and azimuth using So-ganui, it was adjusted with the horizontal coordinate system and measured using Jipyeonghwan (地平環), Ipeunhwan (立運環) and Guyhyeong (窺衡). Based such measuring principles, the measurement accuracy proposed using So-ganui are as follows. The remodeled So-ganui produced approximately ${\pm}0.29$ degrees error on average at high altitude while in measuring the azimuth degrees, there was difference of ${\pm}0.35$ degrees. Since the theoretically, the measurement error for So-ganui was ${\pm}0.5$ degrees, the remodeled So-ganui could accurately measure at the high altitude compared to So-ganui from the Sejong period. In the study, So-ganui, which has disappeared, has been remodeled in modern perspective to be used as the educational material to accurately understand the principles of science and measurement technology from the Sejong period. The findings could contribute to raising the reputation in the astronomical observations from the documents from the Sejong period. Furthermore, this study has materialized the celestial and sky our ancestors have viewed with the observational principles of their times, on the computer screen via a webcam, bringing out interest in the traditional science for the students.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126.1-126.1
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• 2011

The SPICA (SPace Infrared Telescope for Cosmology & Astrophysics) project is a next-generation infrared space telescope optimized for mid- and far-infrared observation with a cryogenically cooled 3m-class telescope. Owing to unique capability of focal plane instruments onboard SPICA, it will enable us to resolve many astronomical key issues from the star-formation history of the universe to the planetary formation. The FPC (Focal Plane Camera) is a Korean-led near-infrared instrument as an international collaboration. Korean consortium for FPC proposed a key instrument responsible for a fine guiding (FPC-G). The back-up of FPC-G will make scientific observations as well. We have examined the legacy science programs for FPC and performed the feasibility study for the fine guiding system. Recently, the international review process is now in progress, in order to make a selection of the focal plane instruments. Here, we report the current status of SPICA/FPC project.

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

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.307-310
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• 2005

The Solar-B is the third Japanese spacecraft dedicated for solar physics to be launched in summer of 2006. The spacecraft carries a coordinated set of optical, EUV and X-ray instruments that will allow a systematic study of the interaction between the Sun's magnetic field and its high temperature, ionized atmosphere. The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) consists of a 50cm aperture diffraction limited Gregorian telescope and a focal plane package, and provides quantitative measurements of full vector magnetic fields at the photosphere with spatial resolution of 0.2-0.3 arcsec in a condition free from terrestrial atmospheric seeing. The X-ray telescope (XRT) images the high temperature (0.5 to 10 MK) corona with improved spatial resolution of approximately 1 arcsec. The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) aims to determine velocity fields and other plasma parameters in the corona and the transition region. The Solar-B telescopes, as a whole, will enable us to explore the origins of the outer solar atmosphere, the corona, and the coupling between the fine magnetic structure at the photosphere and the dynamic processes occurring in the corona. The mission instruments (SOT/EIS/XRT) are joint effort of Japan (JAXA/NAO), the United States (NASA), and the United Kingdom (PPARC). An overview of the spacecraft and its mission instruments are presented.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2018

We investigate the life of Lee Cheon (1376-1451) who was closely connected with astronomy during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon dynasty. Lee Cheon is widely regarded as one of the outstanding scientists of King Sejong's period. However, his contributions to the development of the astronomy during the period have not been enlightened. Based on the historical records on the life and achievements of Lee Cheon, mainly referring to the Joseonwangjosillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), we address three important points. First, Lee Cheon was a distinguished administrator who filled various government posts. Second, he was a supervising engineer in public works and metal smelting during his position in military. Third, he was a scientific technician and manufactured precision equipment such as the metal movable type sets. By virtue of these aspects, Lee Cheon was taken into confidence by King Sejong on the Ganui-dae project (i.e., manufacture various astronomical instruments and construct their platform in order to make a calendar suitable for Joseon). During the period of this project, Lee Cheon not only supervised the construction of the Ganui (simplified armillary sphere) and Ganui-dae (platform for astronomical instruments) but also participated in the production of the astronomical instruments such as Gyupyo (Gnomon) and Honcheonui (Armillary Sphere). In conclusion, we regard Lee Cheon as one of the astronomers who led a great advance in astronomy during King Sejong's era.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

During the reign of King Sejong (世宗, 1418-1450) in the Joseon Dynasty, there were lots of astronomical instruments, including miniaturized ones. Those instruments utilized the technical know-how acquired through building contemporary astronomical instruments previously developed in the Song(宋), Jin(金), and Yuan(元) dynasties of China. In those days, many astronomical instruments had circles, rings, and spheres carved with a scale of 365.25, 100, and 24 parts, respectively, on their circumference. These were called the celestial-circumference degree, hundred-interval (Baekgak), and 24 direction, respectively. These scales are marked by the angular distance, not by the angle. Therefore, these circles, rings, and spheres had to be optimized in size to accomodate proper scales. Assuming that the scale system is composed of integer multiples of unit length, we studied the sizes of circles by referring to old articles and investigating existing artifacts. We discovered that the star chart of Cheonsang yeolcha bunyajido was drawn with a royal standard ruler (周尺) based on the unit length of 207 mm. Interestingly, its circumference was marked by the unit scale of 3 puns per 1 du (or degree) like Honsang (a celestial globe). We also found that Hyeonju ilgu (a equatorial sundial) has a Baekgak disk on a scale of 1 pun per 1 gak (that is an interval of time similar to a quarter). This study contributes to the analysis of specifications of numerous circular elements from old Korean astronomical instruments.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.38.4-39
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• 2021

The Local Volume Mapper (LVM), for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V, consists of four 16 cm telescopes with three fiber spectrographs in the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. With the fixed telescopes on optical tables, the Alt-Alt mounted siderostats point and guide targets during spectrograph exposures. We are developing the integrated LVM instrument control software. Considering international travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, we decided to make a simplified version of siderostat to test the LVM telescope control system in Korea. The prototype siderostat consists of two aluminum flat mirrors, optomechanical housing structures made by aluminum profiles, and the Planewave L-350 mount. We designed the optical mirrors and the optomechanical structure of the siderostat. From structural analysis at various pointing cases, we estimated the tilt misalignments of mirrors within 4 arcsec, which would affect the telescope pointing errors.