• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.63.1-63.1
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• 2021

We present status of solar astronomy in North Korea through analysis of research papers written by North Korea scientists. For the study, we collected 42 papers published in North Korea and international journals. We have analyzed the papers statistically according to three criteria such as research subject, research field, and research members. The main research subjects are the sunspot (28%), observation system (21%), and space environments (19%). The research fields are distributed with data analysis (50%), numerical method (29%), and instrument development (21%). There have been 25 and 9 researchers in the solar astronomy and space environment, respectively since 1995. North Korea's solar research activities were also investigated in three area: instrument, solar physics, and international research linkage. PAO(Pyongyang Astronomical Observatory) has operated two of sunspot telescope and solar horizontal telescope for spectroscopy and polarimetry, but there is no specific information on solar radio telescopes. North Korea has cooperated in solar research with Europe and China. We expect that the results of this study will be used as useful resource in supporting astronomical cooperation between South and North Korea in the future.

• 한국컴퓨터정보학회논문지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

본 논문에서는 3D 애니메이션 도구인 마야를 이용하여 태양계를 모델링하고 각 행성의 움직임과 물리적인 속성들을 정밀하고 객관적으로 구현하여 태양계의 구조를 시각적으로 쉽게 이해할 수 있도록 시뮬레이터를 구현하였다. 메뉴를 이용한 마야의 모델링으로는 정밀한 물리적 속성 값을 표현하기 어려우므로 파이선 스크립트를 이용하여 각 행성의 특성을 표현하였다. 제안하는 시뮬레이터는 가상현실 분야나 학생들의 교육 자료로서 사용 가능하도록 모델링과 렌더링을 실사와 동일하게 구현하였다. 또한 마야 애니메이션에서의 메뉴를 이용한 모델링과 스크립트 언어인 파이선을 활용하여 누구라도 쉽게 실사 영상을 볼 수 있도록 하였다.

• 천문학논총
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2021

We have analyzed 42 research papers regarding on the solar astronomy written by North Korea scientists to investigate the current status of astronomical activities in North Korea. The papers are surveyed from the 'Bulletin of Astronomy', the 'Physics', the 'Bulletin of Academy of Science', and the 'Natural Science' in North Korea, and SCI journals. In addition, we refer to the presentation material announced in the 2015 IAU by director of Pyongyang Astronomical Observatory (PAO) and the 2013 OAD/IAU reports. We have analyzed the papers statistically according to three criteria such as research subject, research field, and research members. The main research subjects are the sunspot (28%), observation system (21%), and space environments (19%). The research fields are distributed with data analysis (50%), numerical method (29%), and instrument development (21%). There have been 25 and 9 researchers in the solar astronomy and space environment, respectively since 1995. North Korea's solar research activities were also investigated in three area: instrument, solar physics, and international research linkage. PAO has operated two of sunspot telescope and solar horizontal telescope for spectroscopy and polarimetry, but there is no specific information on solar radio telescopes. North Korea has cooperated in solar research with Europe and China. We expect that the results of this study will be used as useful resource in supporting astronomical cooperation between South and North Korea in the future.

• 천문학회보
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.50.2-50.2
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• 2016

Polarization is a rich source of information on the physical properties of astronomical objects. In particular, scattered sunlight by optically thin media (e.g., cometary comae) shows linear polarization of light, which highly depends on the phase angle (an angle between the Sun-Comet-Earth), wavelengths, and physical properties of cometary dust particles such as size, composition, and structures. Here, we present a study of polarimetric properties of non-periodic comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) in optical and near-infrared wavelength regions obtained from imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetric observations taken on UT 2015 December 17 - 19 welcoming its (probably) first close approach to the Earth. In this presentation, we want to introduce our progress since the last Korean Astronomical Society meeting (at BEXCO, Busan, 2016 April 14 - 15) especially in terms of spatial variations of degree of linear polarization (DOLP) and its possible scenarios to explain the correlations with other observational results. In particular, we found that there is strong anti-correlation between the gas/dust flux ratio and DOLP at the cometocentric distance of $(2-5){\times}104 km$. Besides, within 10 arcseconds in radii (corresponding to inner coma region of 104 km from the center), the inverse relationship of these two parameters does not hold anymore. We conjecture that the rapid outward increase of DOLP can be supported by either the sublimation/evaporation of icy volatiles, disaggregation of cometary dust particles ejected from the nucleus, and/or difference of dominant dust particle sizes. From our results, we can conclude that comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) corroborates rather indefinite traditional classification of poalrimetric classes of comets, and provides good opportunity to study less processed material which probably cherishes its memory at the formation epoch of the Solar System.

• 천문학논총
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2016

We summarize our preliminary study on the research cooperation method in the astronomy field between Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). To investigate the recent astronomical activities of North Korea, we have surveyed the published records of research papers and international collaborations associated with North Korean astronomers. We found only 4 astronomical papers among the identified 260 SCI papers related to North Korean researchers for the past 11 years. North Korean astronomers had very few interactions with the international astronomical society before rejoining IAU in 2012. Recently, North Korea made several astronomical research exchanges with China and Netherlands. They seemed to attend several international conferences and present their research results. We have studied possibilities to establish international networks to encourage the cooperation between South and North, and suggest to start collaboration in the historical astronomy. The collaboration can be expanded gradually to other fields in astronomy. There are many obvious political difficulties to have interactions with North Koreans. However, it will be necessary to make a long-term plan considering the reunification.

• 천문학논총
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.13-26
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• 2024

The armillary sphere, an astronomical observation device embodying the Orbital Heaven Theory of the Later Han Dynasty in China, holds both historical and scientific significance. It has been produced in various forms by many individuals since its inception in the era of King Sejong in the Joseon Dynasty. A prominent figure in this field was Nam Byeong-cheol (南秉哲, 1817-1863), known for his work 'Uigijipseol' (儀器輯說), published in 1859, which detailed the history, production methods, and usage of the armillary sphere. This text particularly highlights 21 applications of the armillary sphere, divided into 33 measurements, covering aspects like installation, time, and positional measurements, supplemented with explanations of spherical trigonometry. Despite numerous records of the armillary sphere's design during the Joseon Dynasty, detailed usage information remains scarce. In this study, the 33 measurements described in 'Uigijipseol' (儀器輯說) were systematically classified into six for installation, nineteen for position measurement, seven for time measurement, and one for other purposes. Additionally, the measurement methods were analyzed and organized by dividing them into the ecliptic ring, moving equatorial ring, and fixed equatorial ring of the armillary sphere. In other words, from a modern astronomical perspective, the results of schematization for each step were presented by analyzing it from the viewpoint of longitude, right ascension, and solar time. Through the analysis of Nam's armillary sphere, this study not only aims to validate the restoration model of the armillary sphere but also suggests the potential for its use in basic astronomical education based on the understanding of the 19th-century Joseon armillary sphere.

• 천문학회보
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.57.4-57.4
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• 2015

Light bending by gravity was the key prediction of general relativity. Solar eclipse expedition of 1919 provided the observational support for the theory of general relativity. Diverse gravitational lensing, i.e., light bending, phenomena have been speculated and predicted by general relativity and ultimately discovered many years later. Gravitationally lensed quasars, luminous arcs, weak lensing, and microlensing have provided invaluable information about the distribution of matter, especially of dark matter, and the cosmology. Gravitational lensing is one of the most spectacular manifestation of general relativity and will remain as an extremely useful astrophysical tools in the future.

• 천문학회지
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.439-446
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• 2004

A critical discussion of our knowledge about extragalactic cosmic rays and magnetic fields is at-tempted. What do we know for sure? What are our prejudices? How do we confront our models with the observations? How can we assess the uncertainties in our modeling and in our observations? Unfortunately, perfect answers to these questions can not be given. Instead, I describe efforts I am involved in to gain reliable information about relativistic particles and magnetic fields in extragalactic space.

• 천문학논총
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.31-55
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• 1995

We have developed a new device, Plate-to-CCD Convertor (PCC), to conveniently digitize photographic plates in a relatively short time without losing any plate information (Oh et al. 1995). Using this device we have performed surface photometry of 12 early type galaxies. We determined relative orientations and scales to analyze PCC images. We also determined an ellipticity, position angle of the major axis, and $a_4$ of each galaxy to quantify the distribution of surface brightness. We checked the performance and limitation of this device by comparing the PCC images with those digitized by the ST microdensitometer and those obtained with CCD observations.

• 천문학논총
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• 제15권spc1호
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• pp.85-91
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• 2000

Infrared spectroscopic observations and their analysis revealed many physical and chemical characteristics of the various stars with dust envelopes. Especially, AGB stars and young stellar objects are believed to be major contributors of infrared radiation from galaxies. The wavelength of the peak spectral energy for typical galaxies is about $100{\mu}m$. Therefore, infrared spectral observations of galaxies provide important information for their overall properties. The qualitative analysis of the infrared spectra which are made of various stars and interstellar matter will be possible through a new population synthesis.