• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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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.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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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.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.50.3-51
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• 2016

Recent analysis on the thermophysical property of asteroids revealed that their thermal inertia decrease with their sizes at least for main belt asteroids. However, little is known about that of comet-like bodies. In this work we utilized a simple thermophysical model (TPM) to calculate the thermal inertia of a bare nucleus of the comet P/2006 HR30 (Siding Spring) and an asteroid in comet-like orbit 107P/(4015) Wilson-Harrington from AKARI observation data. From five spectroscopic observations of the targets, we find out that the former has thermal inertia of around $2,000J\;m^{-2}K^{-1}s^{-1/2}$ (using pV = 0.055) and the latter has about $1,000-2000J\;m^{-2}K^{-1}s^{-1/2}$ (using pV = 0.055 and 0.043, respectively). These are high enough for both of them to deposit water ice at few centimeters depth, and hence it is difficult to say they are cometary based on the results of this study. These values, however, dependent significantly on the errors of observation and the uncertainties of the input parameters, as well as other conditions which are ignored in simple TPM approach, such as shape model and surface roughness. Further detailed analyses on these cometary bodies will shed light on our understanding of the detailed surfacial characteristics of them.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.49.3-50
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• 2016

Deep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern Sky (DEEP-South) observations have been conducted officially during the off-season for exoplanet search since October 2015. Most of the allocated time for DEEP-South is devoted to targeted photometry, Opposition Census (OC), of Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) to increase the number of such objects with known physical properties. It is efficiently achieved by multiband, time series photometry. This Opposition Census (OC) mode target objects near their opposition, with km-sized PHAs in the early stage and goes down to sub-km objects. Continuous monitoring of the sky with KMTNet is optimized for spin characterization of various kinds of asteroids, including binaries, satellites, slow/fast- and non-principal axis-rotators, and hence is expected to facilitate the debiasing of previously reported lightcurve observations. We present the preliminary lightcurves of NEAs from year one of the DEEP-South with our long term plan.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.60.1-60.1
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• 2013

Numerous dust particles are scattered in the interplanetary space of the solar system (Interplanetary Dust Particles; IDPs). The origin of the IDPs is one of the major questions in the solar system astronomy because IDPs are being removed from the solar system within a few million years by photon drag. Comets and asteroids were pointed out as the possible sources of IDPs. Although several dust supplying mechanisms from comets and asteroids have been revealed, amount of contribution from each sources are still not clear. Zodiacal light is sunlight scattered by IDPs. Spectra of zodiacal light can supply important observational clue to reveal the origin of the IDPs, because comets and each type of asteroids have different kind of spectra. However, reflectance spectrum of zodiacal light was not measured at the wavelength of weak atmospheric contamination. We measured the reflectance spectra of zodiacal light from $5000{\AA}$ to $7000{\AA}$. We used open data obtained by the Subaru/FOCAS instruments archived in the SMOKA database. From the longslit spectrum data, we measured spectrum of sky background and estimated flux from the sources other than the zodiacal light. We compared it with the spectra of each type of minor bodies in the solar system, and meteorites originated from these bodies.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.58.1-59
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• 2021

Exploration of asteroids' internal structure is essential for understanding their evolutional history. It also provides a fundamental information about the history of coalescence and collision of the solar system. Among several models of the internal structures, the rubble-pile model, confirmed by the near-Earth asteroid (25143) Itokawa by Hayabusa mission [1], is now widely regarded as the most common to asteroids with size ranging from 200 m to 10 km [2]. On the contrary, monolithic and core-mantle structures are also possible for small asteroids [3]. It is, however, still challenging to look through the interior of a target object using remote-sensing devices. In this presentation, we introduce our ongoing research conducted at Seoul National and propose an idea to infer the internal structure of Apophis using available instruments. Itokawa's research provides an important benchmark for Apophis exploration because both asteroids have similar size and composition [4][5]. We have conducted research on Itokawa's evolution in terms of collision and space weathering. Space weathering is the surface alteration process caused by solar wind implantation and micrometeorite bombardment [6]. Meanwhile, resurfacing via a collision acts as a counter-process of space weathering by exposing fresh materials under the matured layer and lower the overall degree of space weathering. Therefore, the balance of these two processes determine the space weathering degrees of the asteroid. We focus on the impact evidence on the boulder surface and found that space weathering progresses in only 100-10,000 years and modifies the surface optical properties (Jin & Ishiguro, KAS 2020 Fall Meeting). It is important to note that the timescale is significantly shorter than the Itokawa's age, suggesting that the asteroid can be totally processed by space weathering. Accordingly, our result triggers a further discussion about why Itokawa indicates a moderately fresh spectrum (Sq-type denotes less matured than S-type). For example, Itokawa's smooth terrains show a weaker degree of space weathering than other S-type asteroids [7]. We conjecture that the global seismic shaking caused by collisions with >1 mm-sized interplanetary dust particles induces granular convection, which hinders the progression of space weathering [8]. Note that the efficiency of seismic wave propagation is strongly dependent on the internal structure of the asteroid. Finally, we consider possible approaches to investigate Apophis's internal structure. The first idea is studying the space weathering age, as conducted for Itokawa. If Apophis indicates a younger age, the internal structure would have more voids [9]. In addition, the 2029 close encounter with Earth provides a rare natural opportunity to witness the contrast between before and after the event. If the asteroid exhibits a slight change in shape and space weathering degree, one can determine the physical structure of the internal materials (e.g., rubble-pile monolithic, thick or thin regolith layer, the cohesion of the materials). We will also consider a possible science using a seismometer.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44.2-44.2
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• 2001

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2003.05b
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• pp.23-23
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-45
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• 2003

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2013

Micronesia is an island nation located north of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. A survey was executed on Kosrae, which is one of the four main islands of Micronesia, during January 23-30, 2011 and January 8-15, 2012. The echinoderms were collected at eight intertidal areas and at 12 SCUBA diving points at depths of 10-50 m in the subtidal zone. They were identified based on morphological characteristics. In total, 50 species from 276 individuals were identified: three crinoids, 11 asteroids, seven ophiuroids, 10 echinoids, and 19 holothuroids. Among them, two crinoids, five asteroids, three ophiuroids, four echinoids and two holothuroids were newly recorded from Kosrae.