• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.31-44
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• 2018

Song, I-Yeong (1619 ~ ?) was an active astronomer in the Joseon dynasty at the era of adopting the Shixian-li, Chinese calendar in Qing dynasty. His astronomical contribution was recorded in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Diary of the Royal Secretariat, Comparative Review of Records and Documents-Its Revision and Enlargement, and Treatise on the Bureau of Astronomy. In addition the details on his life and works were found at the genealogies of the Song Family from Yeonan and the Kim Family from Seonsan. His major astronomical activities can be summarized in three items. First, as a specialist astronomer, he has attempted to make a systematic observation of two comets. Second, he designed and fabricated the Jamyeong-jong, the weight-powered armillary clock, which became a typical model of the astronomical clock in the Joseon dynasty. Last, he served as a royal astronomical professor, greatly contributing on implementing the Shixian-li. Song has concentrated on performing astronomical duties for his royal official service time. Song is regarded as an important astronomer who made it possible to enforce the Shixian-li until the late Joseon dynasty.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.257-258
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• 2017

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.19
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• pp.15.2-16
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• 1994

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.48.4-49
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• 2018

We studyed an Korean astrolabe made by Ryu Geum (1741~1788), the late Joseon Confucian scholar. It has a diameter of 17 cm and a thickness of 6 mm and is now owned by Museum of Silhak. In the 1267 of the reign of Kublai Khan of Mogol Empire, Jamal al Din, an Ilkhanate astronomer, present an astrolabe to his emperor together with 6 astronomical instruments. In 1525, an astrolabe was first made in Korea by Lee, Sun (李純, ?~?), a Korean astronomer and royal official of Joseon Dynasty. He was referred to Gexiang xinshu, a Mongloian-Chinese book by Zhao, Youqin (1280-1345), an astronomer of Mongolian Empire. This astrolabe has not been left. In the mid-17th century, an astrolabe was introduced to Joseon again through Hungai tongxian tushuo (渾蓋 通憲圖設) edited by Chinese Mathematician Li Zhi-zao (李之藻, 1565~1630), that originated from Astrolabium (1593) of Christoph Clavius (1538-1612). It seems that Ryu refered to Hungai tongxian tushuo which affect to Hongae-tongheon-ui (渾蓋通憲儀) edited by Nam, Byeong-Cheol (南秉哲, 1817~1863). We analysis lots of circles on the mother and a set of index from the rete of of Ryu's astrolabe. We find that the accuracy of circles has about 0.2~0.4 mm in average if the latitude of this astrolabe is 38 degrees. 11 indices of the rete point bright stars of the northern and southern celestial hemisphere. Their tip's accuracies are about $2^{\circ}.9{\pm}3^{\circ}.2$ and $2^{\circ}.3{\pm}2^{\circ}.8$ on right ascension and declination of stars respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.27-27
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• 1994

No Abstract. See Full-text

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.367-380
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• 2017

The life and astronomical activity of Lee Deok-Seong (李德星, 1720-1794) was studied using various historical sources, including the astronomical almanac, Seungjeongwon-Ilgi (Daily records of Royal Secretariat of Joseon dynasty), and the Gwansang-Gam's logbooks during Joseon dynasty (A.D. 1392-1910). We present the results of the study including the following main findings. First, from the investigation of Lee's family tree, we find that a number of his relatives were also astronomers, notably Samryeok-Gwan (三曆官, the post of calendrical calculation). Second, we find that he took part in the compilation of an annual astronomical almanac over a period of at least 16 years. His major achievements in the astronomy of the Joseon dynasty were to establish a new method of calendar-making calculation and to bring astronomical materials to the Joseon court through a visit to China. The Joseon dynasty enforced the Shixianli (時憲曆, a Chinese calendar made by Adam Shall) in 1654 without fully understanding the calendar. So an astronomer and an envoy were dispatched to China in order to master the intricacies of the calendar and to learn as much of Western science as was available in that time and place. Lee Deok-Seong worked at the Gwansang-Gam (觀象監, Royal Astronomical Bureau) during the reigns of King Yeongjo (英祖) and Jeongjo (正祖). As best as we can ascertain in relation with the calculations in the Shixian calendar, Lee visited China four times. During his trips and interactions, he learned a new method for calendar-making calculations, and introduced many Western-Chinese astronomical books to Joseon academia. Lee greatly improved the accuracy of calendrical calculations, even while simplifying the calculation process. With these achievements, he finally was promoted to the title of Sungrok-Daebu (崇祿大夫), the third highest grade of royal official. In conclusion, history demonstrates that Lee Deok-Seong was one of the most outstanding astronomers in the late-Joseon dynasty.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.84.2-84.2
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• 2014

The intermediate polar V1323 Her = RXS J180340.0+401214 returned from its faint state 19.4-20.5 mag (mean brightness during the run, the instrumental system close to R or clear filter) (vsnet-alert 16958). On March 1, 2014, the brightness was 17.50 (clear filter) and next night 17.8 (R). During previous observations on January 24, the object was 19.6. We reported this findings to vsnet-alert 16958 and to The Astronomer's Telegramm (ATel #5944). The characteristics of the runs obtained before/after a switch between the high and low states will be presented.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.205-208
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• 2017

Modelling and fitting the spectral energy distribution (SED) of galaxies or regions of galaxies is one of the most useful methods available to the astronomer nowadays. By modelling the SEDs and comparing the models to the observations, we can collect important information on the physical processes at play in the formation and evolution of galaxies. The models allow to follow the evolution of the galaxies from their formation on. The versatility of code is crucial because of the diversity of galaxies. The analysis is only relevant and useful if the models can correctly reproduce this diversity now and across (as best as possible) all redshifts. On the other hand, the code needs to run fast to compare several million or tens of millions of models and to select the best (on a probabilistic basis) one that best resembles the observations. With this important point in mind, it seems logical that we should efficiently make use of the computer power available to the average astronomer. For instance, it seems difficult, today, to model and fit SEDs without a parallelized code. We present the new Python version of CIGALE SED fitting code and its characteristics. CIGALE comes in two main flavours: CIGALE Classic to fit SEDs and CIGALE Model to create spectra and SEDs of galaxies at all redshifts. The latest can potentially be used in conjunction with galaxy evolution models of galaxy formation and evolution such as semi-analytic ones.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.705-707
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• 2015

Astronomical observation is the beginning of scientific attitudes in the history of mankind. According to Indian tradition, there existed 18 early astronomical texts (siddhantas) composed by Surya, Pitamaha and many others. Varahamihira compiled five astronomical texts in a book named panchasiddhantika, which is now the link between early and later siddhantas. Indian scholars had no practice of writing their own names in their works, so, it is very difficult to identify them. Aryabhata is the first name noticed, in the book Aryabhatiya. After this point most astronomers and astro-writers wrote their names in their works. In this paper I have tried to analyze the works of astronomers like Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara I, Vateswara, Sripati and Bhaskaracharya in a modern context and to obtain an account of Indian astronomical knowledge. Aryabhata is the first Indian astronomer who stated that the rising and setting of the Sun, the Moon and other heavenly bodies was due to the relative motion of the Earth caused by the rotation of the Earth about its own axis. He also estabished the 'yuga' theory (one Mahayuga = 432000 years). Varahamihira compiled panchasiddhantika and wrote Brihatsamhita. Brahmagupta is the most distinguished astronomer known to us. His two major works are i) Brahmasphutasiddhanta and ii) Khandkhadaka. Bhaskara I was the follower of Aryabhata. His three known works are Mahabhaskariya, Laghubhaskariya and Aryabhatiyabhasya. Vateswara follows Aryapaksha and Saurapaksha. His master work is Vateswarasiddhanta. Sripati, in his siddhantasekhara, gives the rules for determining the Moon's second inequality. Bhaskara II wrote the most comprehensive astronomical work in Indian astronomy. The result of these works is the account of the Indian astronomical heritage. These works are written in the Sanskrit language. A very few of these manuscripts have been translated in English but many are yet to be done. So, it is necessary to translate these astronomical texts into English with proper commentary for modern scholars. This paper will be helpful in this work.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.271-279
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• 2019

Pierre-Simon de Laplace(1749-1827) is considered one of the most influential scientists in history. He was known to his contemporaries as the Newton of France, and a scientific sage valued for his magisterial syntheses of scientific works through the 18th century. Laplace was a determined mathematician, astronomer, writer, philosopher, and educator. In this paper, we take a survey of his achievements in the areas of astronomy and mathematical statistics, along with his scientific philosophy, the universal determinism.