• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.40.4-41
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• 2018

We introduce a coordinate catalog for photometry of the KMTNet Galactic bulge observation program and how to find the microlensing event candidates in the photometry result. Basically, the KMTNet bulge program is monitoring a total of 27 target fields (108 deg2) with four different cadences of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 hours. In order to measure the stellar flux of each target, we made a 'observation coordinate catalog' by using the 'OGLE-III catalog' and 'DoPhot package'. The catalog contains approximately 0.3 billion stars in the bulge fields. We also search for a microlensing event candidates by means of the 'Event Finder algorithm' which calculates the restricted single-lens fitting (t0, teff, u0; u0 = 0 or 1) model. As a result, we found more than 2,000 microlensing event candidates per each year including about 700 events from the other survey groups such as OGLE and MOA. In this year, we will improve our current pipeline system, e.g. upgrading the catalog and applying real-time photometry.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.120.1-120.1
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• 2011

현대 천문학의 주요한 이슈 중 하나인 외계행성은 570개 이상 발견되었는데, 이들 모두 우리 은하내 외계행성들이다. 우리는 KMTNet 광시야 관측시스템을 이용하여 마젤란 은하내 외계행성을 Transit 방법으로 탐색 관측하여 외부은하 최초의 외계행성을 발견하고자 한다. 이제까지 알려진 Transit 행성들의 별표면 통과시간(transit duration)은 대부분 100-300분 사이에 분포하기 때문에, 이 현상의 검출은 최대 10분의 시간분해능을 필요로 한다. 한편, KMTNet 망원경은 마젤란 은하내 21등급의 별을 I 필터에서 10분의 노출로 1%의 측정정밀도를 얻을 수 있고, 8-10미터급 대형망원경을 이용하면 태양질량의 21등급 별을 공전하는 목성형 행성들의 분광후속 관측이 가능하다. 우리는 KMTNet으로 마젤란 은하내 19-21등급에 있는 F-G형 주계열성들과 청색수평가지별들(blue horizontal branch star)을 I 필터(관측 시작, 중간, 끝 시간에는 V 필터도 사용)에서 10분의 노출로 시계열 측광 관측하면, 다수의 Transit 외계행성을 발견할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다. 이와 더불어, 수년의 장시간 관측자료로부터 RR Lyr, ${\delta}$ Sct 및 식변광성의 극대/극심시각을 정밀하게 측정하여 Timing 방법으로 항성계 주위를 공전하는 장주기 외계행성을 발견할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라, 중력렌즈(self-lensing) 현상을 보이는 외계행성도 검출가능하다.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.53.1-53.1
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• 2016

With the official start of the operations of the three 1.6 m KMTNet telescope systems from 2015 October, we have initiated a program named KMTNet Supernova Program (KSP) from 2015 to 2019 aiming at searching for supernovae (SNe), other optical transients and related sources. Taking advantage of the 24-hour coverage, high cadence and multi-color monitoring observations, this is optimal for discovering early SNe and peculiar ones. From the start of the previous test observing runs of ~half a year, we have performed observations on several nearby galaxy groups and nearby galaxies with short separations on the sky. We have developed data reduction/variable object search pipelines, meanwhile we have discovered some interesting transient objects. We also stacked all the images for given fields, searched for new objects/galaxies, and discovered several new dwarf galaxies, e.g., in the NGC 2784 galaxy group field (H. S. Park et al.'s talk). We will report the current project status and the results obtained.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.221.1-221.1
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• 2012

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) is developing three 1.6m optical telescopes with $18k{\times}18k$ mosaic CCD cameras. These telescopes will be installed and operated at Chile, South Africa, and Australia for Korea Micro-lensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) project. The main scientific goal of the project is to discover earth-like extra-solar planets using the gravitational micro-lensing technique. To achieve the goal, each telescope at three sites will continuously monitor the specific region of Galactic bulge with 2.5 minute cadence for five years. Assuming 12 hour observation in maximum for a night, the amount of 200 GB file storage is required for one night observation at one observatory. If we consider the whole project period and the data processing procedure, a few PB class data storage, high-speed network, and high performance computers are essential. In this presentation, we introduce the KMTNet data management plan that handles gigantic data; raw image collecting, image processing, photometry pipeline, database archiving, and backup.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.61.2-61.2
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• 2019

A total of 10,317 hours of the KMTNet telescope time were allocated for the predefined science programs, and 7,765 hours have been used for science exposures in Chile, Australia and South Africa last year. The success rate of science observation has increased from 70.7% to 75.3%, and the system operation rate has also increased from 97.6% to 99.6%. There were many improvements in mechanical parts of the dome structure and telescope system, and newly installed filter driers of the CCD camera increased the stability of the system by preventing contamination of oil in the gas line in advance. In order to prepare for the time domain astronomy and multi messenger astronomy era, a pilot program was designed and is now being tested. It targets for fast follow-up observations of optical transient events, however it runs during twilight times only so it does not interrupt any granted science program. A total of 32 SCI papers were published using the system in 2018 and it is a good indication of the high science performance of KMTNet. The selection process of the next observation programs starting from October 2020 and its timeline will be discussed in this meeting.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.80.2-80.2
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• 2019

We present newly discovered dwarf galaxy candidates in deep wide-field images of NGC 1291 obtained with KMTNet. We initially identify 20 dwarf galaxy candidates through visual inspection. 13 out of 20 appears to be high priority candidates, according to their central surface brightness (${\mu}_{0,R}{\sim}22.5$ to $26.5mag\;arcsec^{-2}$) and effective radii (350 pc to 1 kpc). Structural and photometric properties of dwarf candidates appear to be consistent with those of ordinary dwarf galaxies in nearby groups and clusters. Using imaging simulations, we demonstrate that our imaging data is complete up to $26mag\;arcsec^{-2}$ with > 70% of the completeness rate. In order to find an optimal way to automate detecting dwarf galaxies in our dataset, we test detection methods by varying parameters in SExtractor. We find that the detection efficiency from the automated method is relatively low and the contamination due to the artifacts is non-negligible. Therefore, it can be only applicable for pre-selection. We plan to conduct the same analysis for deep images of other nearby galaxies obtained through KMTNet Nearby Galaxy Survey (KNGS).

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.57.1-57.1
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• 2015

We will obtain deep wide-field images of the 150-200 nearby bright galaxies in the southern hemisphere, in order to explore the origin of faint extended features in the outer regions of target galaxies. Using KMTNet telescopes, we will take very deep images, spending ~ 4.5 hr for the B and R filters for each object. With this dataset, we will look for diffuse, low-surface brightness structures including outer disks, truncated disks, tidal features/stellar streams, and faint companions.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.100.2-100.2
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• 2013

외계행성 탐색은 현재 천문학계에서 가장 활발하게 진행되고 있는 연구 분야들 중 하나이며 우리나라에서도 외계행성 탐색을 위한 KMTNet 프로젝트가 진행되고 있다. 외계행성 발견에 대한 소식은 언론에 자주 등장하며 일반인들도 많은 관심을 보이지만 구체적인 내용에 대한 이해는 매우 낮은 현실이다. 외계행성 탐색은 비교적 최근에 등장한 분야라 일선 학교나 일반인 대상 천문시설에서 교육프로그램으로 제대로 자리 잡지 못하고 있기도 하다. 그러므로 외계행성 탐색과 관련된 올바른 교육을 위해서 적합한 교재와 교육프로그램이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 외계행성 탐색에 대한 교육을 위한 교재와 교육프로그램 개발 과정을 소개한다. 더불어 KMTNet과 KGMT와 같은 대형 천문 관련 프로젝트들에 대한 적절한 대국민 홍보 방안을 제안한다.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.44.4-45
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• 2017

We report the first detection of RR Lyrae variable stars in the Crater II dwarf galaxy, a recently discovered ultra-faint satellite of the Milky Way. Based on B, V time series photometry obtained with the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) at CTIO, Chile, we have identified ~45 fundamental-mode (ab-type) and ~2 first-overtone (c-type) RR Lyrae stars by adopting template light-curve fitting method. Our preliminary analysis suggests an Oosterhoff-intermediate classification of this galaxy from the mean period of the RRab stars, <$P_{ab}$> ${\simeq}0.63$ days, and the location of them on the period-amplitude diagram. We discuss the properties of the RR Lyare stars in this galaxy.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.44.3-44.3
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• 2017

We introduce sample light curves of optical transients discovered by the KMTNet Supernoa Program, focusing on their early discoveries and rapid evolutions decoded in the high-cadence observations of the program. For some sources, we also show their spectra obtained either from rapid Target-of-Opportunity follow-up observations immediately after their discoveries or from regularly-scheduled observations. We expect the program to bring unprecedented insights into what is happening during early phases of various types of optical transients, centered on supernovae.