• 천문학논총
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.411-418
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• 2012

We study the correlation between distributions of astronomical records and historical events using historical meteor (shower) records. In Korean chronicles, planets and meteor (shower) records are the most abundant astronomical phenomena. And they represent a general tendency of the number distribution of whole astronomical observations. We examine the correlation for the number distribution between meteors (showers) and planets during A.D. 1200-1700 and find that both records have a similar distribution. We classify historical events into three grades according to the social impact, and investigate the correlation between distributions of meteor (shower) records with social events, such as, new king's accession to the throne, foreign invasions, and domestic turmoils. From the statistical analysis, we cannot find any correlation between the meteor (shower) records and the political events. Therefore, we conclude that Korean historical records have not been influenced by the political events. We also examine the correlation between Chinese and Japanese meteor (shower) records and political events for A.D. 1200-1700, respectively, but cannot find any correlations between them.

• 천문학회보
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.49.5-50
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• 2018

Korean chronicles have a large amount of observational records over two thousand years. Many historical astronomical records are useful in modern times. In this study, we examined solar eclipses in Goguryeo-bongi(高句麗本紀) by using the modified(newest) nutation value and reviewed the observation area through eclipsing map. There are 11 solar eclipse records in the book. We calculated intersectional visible area with 0.6 eclipsing magnitude using the records of AD116, 124, 149, 158 and 219 and found the observational area of $N40-43^{\circ}$ and $E123-127^{\circ}$, which corresponds to the Liaodong(遼東). We also examined historical Chinese solar eclipse records and compared them with Korean eclipses.

• 천문학회보
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.39.1-39.1
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• 2015

Korea has a long history in astronomy, which is proved by many observational records written in Korean chronicles. There are 43 sunspot records in Goryeo dynasty (高麗 918-1392) and 13 records in Joseon dynasty (朝鮮 1392-1910). According to analysis of Korean historical records, it is known that sunspot records in Goryeo dynasty show well in match with the well-known solar activity of 11.3 years. It means that Korean historical sunspot records show real solar phenomena. Korean sunspot records also show that solar activity decrease in Joseon dynasty compared with the previous ~500 years. In order to know the change of solar activity in detail, we examine Korean historical atmospheric records which can indicate climate change. We first analyze historical frost records. Korean chronicles have around 600 frost records during the last millennium. We find that the climate change shows sign of cooling down when check the variation of epoch that the first and last frost events in each year are written. This result is well in accord with that of historical sunspot records. Therefore, we claim that solar activity decrease during the last thousand years.

• 한국우주과학회:학술대회논문집(한국우주과학회보)
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• 한국우주과학회 2008년도 한국우주과학회보 제17권2호
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• pp.38.2-38.2
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• 2008

In Korean historical documents, there are a great number of the records for various astronomical events. In particular, historical documents of the Joseon dynasty also have the records containing observational data by an astronomical instrument. However, a quantitative analysis for the accuracy of observational values have never been studied, although there are some studies on the truth of the records themselves. Hence, we investigated observation errors during the period of the Joseon dynasty from the records of Joseon-Wang-Jo-Sil-Lok (the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) and Seung-Jeong-Won-Il-Gi (Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat). We used the records of the Mars, supernova 1604, and Halley's Comet, and found that observational values before the Hideyoshi invasions in 1592 are relatively more accurate than those after then. However, because the number of cases used in this study is small, we think that more studies are needed to confirm our results. Nonetheless, we reckon our work will be of service to understand astronomical records of the Joseon dynasty.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.107-119
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• 2024

It is known that Chang-Hwa Park (1889-1962) transcribed a chronicle of the Goguryeo kingdom (BC 37-AD 668) of Korea (hereafter Goguri annal) from literature of the time that is no longer available. However, the authenticity of his transcription remains disputed. This study attempts to verify whether the Goguri annal is a pseudograph by analyzing the astronomical records in the annal. Although the Goguryeo kingdom fell in the year 668, the Goguri annal contains records up to the year 536. In this study, we have classified the astronomical records into eight categories and clustered them into two groups: a calendrical data group of reign-name and calendar date categories, and a celestial phenomena group of solar eclipse, trespass, comet, daylight appearance of Venus, meteor/meteorite, and other categories. The records of each category have been compared with those of the Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Chinese chronicles, and with the results of modern computations wherever possible. From this comparison, we have not found any critical record that would indicate that the Goguri annal is a pseudograph, although the same astronomical records, with the exception of a few, are also found in the Samguksagi and Chinese chronicles.

• 천문학논총
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2004

We have constructed a database of Korean historical astronomical records. The database contains observational data recorded from BC 2183 to AD 1910. We have also built a webpage for searching through the database based on the following criteria: (1) dynasties (2) astronomical phenomena (3) reigning kings (4) references (5) keywords. Users may select two or more dynasties to search through the database for a certain phenomena, and compare data with those of other dynasties. The queried data can be primarily sorted by one critetion, and secondarily sorted by another, each in ascending or descending order. The search results give dates both in Solar and Lunisolar calendars, years and dates in Sexagenary cycle, dynasties, reigning kings, astronomical phenomena, and references. The database and webpage were constructed under the research project of the Korean Astronomical Data Center (KADC, http://kadc.kao.re.kr) in Korea Astronomy Observatory (KAO).

• 천문학논총
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.29-41
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• 2020

Korea has numerous astronomical resources, such as observational records, star maps, and a wealth of literature, covering the period from the Three Kingdoms (54 BC - 932 AD) to the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910 AD). The research activities related to these resources have been limited to those by individual researchers. It is now necessary to conduct research by efficiently and systematically collecting and managing Korean astronomical records using an accessible Web environment. The purpose of this study is to complete a system that enables researchers systematically to collect and verify a large number of historical records related to astronomical phenomena in a Web environment. In 2017, a preliminary survey was conducted, and the requirements pertaining to an implementation target system were devised. In addition, a joint development plan was carried out by the developer, lasting three months in 2018. Although the system is relatively simple, it is the first system to be attempted in the historical astronomy field. In order to proceed with the systematic development, the software development methodology is applied to the entire process from deriving the requirements of researchers to completing the system. The completed system is verified through integrated function and performance tests. The functional test is repeated while modifying and testing the system based on various test scenarios. The performance test uses a performance measurement test tool that takes measurements by setting up a virtual operation environment. The developed system is now in normal operation after a one-year trial period. Researchers who become authorized to use the system can use it to verify the accuracy of data and to suggest improvements. The collected feedback will be reflected in future systems, and Korean astronomical records will be available for use internationally through a multilingual service.

• 천문학회보
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.49.3-50
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• 2018

Korea has kept its records of astronomical phenomena since around 2,000 years ago. However, the contents and scope of relevant service have been limited for researchers who need those records due to lack of complete data collection. In this regard, it is necessary to establish efficient collection and management systems of Korean astronomical records by utilizing an environment that is easily accessible. This study is intended to complete the development of a testbed system that allows researchers to systematically input and validate, in a Web environment, multiple astronomical records among the historical documents until Modern Joseon after the Three Kingdoms Period. Recognition of the pre-translated data and tables in advance is followed by its storage in the database built on the Web. Then, data validation is implemented by providing a retrieval service according to a specific form to only a finite number of researchers who have access authority. This study is targeted at a testbed system that takes around three months to be completely developed. The completed testbed system is expected to allow internal and external researchers of an organization to easily access the service on the Web. This will ensure that the accuracy of the data can be verified mutually and help identify areas of service improvement. The opinions collected regarding service improvement will be reflected in the future system. Eventually, domestic astronomical records will subsequently be able to be utilized internationally through the multilingual service.

• 천문학논총
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.151-168
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• 2007

We have analyzed the comet records in the Korean history books: Samguksagi, Goryeosa, and Joseonwangjosillok. For a comparison, the Chinese and Japanese comet records collected by Kronk (1999) have also been analyzed. Power spectrum of the time series of the comet records is used to find periodic comets. Statistically significant periodicities in the power spectrum are detected at the periods of 38-40 years, about 76 years, and 300-400 years for all Korean, Chinese, and Japanese comet records. We have also calculated the past orbits of some comets that have been recently observed, to check whether or not they were recorded in the history books. We use a multistep method to numerically integrate the comet's orbital motion backward in time to 51 B.C. The gravitational force due to the Sun and the nine planets, non-gravitational force, and the relativistic effects have been considered. Comparison of comet's perihelion passage time and the position on the sky with the historical records shows that the comet Halley were recorded at every passage in both Goryeo and Joseon periods. The orbital motion of the comet Pons-Brooks has also been compared with the Korean records. For the comet Tempel-Tuttle, Swift-Tuttle, and Ikeya-Zhang, we have compared our calculation of the orbital motions with those of the previous studies.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.65.1-65.1
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• 2021

The Donggungilgi (東宮日記) is the daily records of the Siganwon (侍講院), which was a royal office in the Joseon dynasty that took charge of the education for the crown prince who dwelled in the Donggung (East Palace). This literature contains records of meteorological and astronomical observations as well as educational matters. The Sohyeon-Donggungilgi (昭顯東宮日記) includes records from 1625 to 1645, when Prince Sohyeon, the first son of King Injo (仁祖), was the crown prince. We investigate the records of solar halo observations in the Sohyeon-Donggungilgi. For consistency, we restrict our investigation to the period before the second Manchu invasion of Korea (i.e., 1625 to 1635). We extract 2,684 records and classify them into ten events according to the terms in their descriptions. The largest and smallest number of observation records are for the Hun (暈) and Geuk (戟) events (1,794 and 7 records, respectively). To verify what each event represents in modern atmospheric terms, we refer to historical documents of the Seoungwanji (書雲觀志, Treaties on the Bureau of Astronomy) and Cheonmundaeseong (天文大成, Great Achievements in Astronomy). We also calculate the solar altitude based on the observation hour and compare the descriptions to compute simulations provided by Arbeitskreis Meteore e.V.. We find that the descriptions of the Hun, Junghun (重暈), Yi (珥), and Baekhonggwanil (白虹貫日) events indicate a 22˚ halo, 22˚ and 46˚ halos, a parhelion, and a parhelic circle, respectively, Alternatively, we estimate that the Gwan (冠), Dae (戴), Bae (背), Li (履), and Gyohun (交暈) events describe arcs tangent to a 22˚ or 46˚ halo such as a upper or lower tangent arc, a circumzenithal arc, or a parry arc. We suggest that further studies are required for the Geuk event because the descriptions of this event differ from both documents referred to this study. In the sense that the number of observation records of the Geuk event is the smallest, however, this event may describe a rare phenomenon. We believe that this work will contribute to the study of historical records of solar or lunar halos.