• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2008

It has been considered that 'exhausted eclipses' (日食旣) were total eclipses. However, modern precise calculations show that a significant fraction of such records are not realized to be total. Thus we doubt that the two concepts are equivalent. Here we investigate the meaning of 'exhausted eclipses' in the east-Asian history. We first find that eclipses of magnitude greater than 0.8 were regarded as 'exhausted eclipses' by a Korean astronomer of the 18th-century Choson dynasty. His notion was based upon the definition of 'exhausted eclipses' in the ephemerides of pre-modern Chinese dynasties. According to those ephemerides, the 'exhausted eclipses', whose magnitude is greater than 0.8, have the first contact at the western part of the solar disk and the fourth contact at the eastern part of the solar disk. A simple geometrical calculation shows that such cases really occur when the magnitude of eclipse is greater than 0.7. We pointed out that such an ancient definition might not be impractical for ancient astronomers, because the uncertainty of eclipse magnitude estimated by ancient Chinese ephemerides was 10% and the human sight has a spatial resolution of 1.2 arcmin, which is approximately one twentieth of the Sun's angular diameter.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.233-238
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• 2016

The missing historical record of the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova (SN) event implies a large extinction to the SN, possibly greater than the interstellar extinction to the current SN remnant. Here we investigate the possibility that the guest star that appeared near Cas A in 1592-1593 in Korean history books could have been an 'impostor' of the Cas A SN, i.e., a luminous transient that appeared to be a SN but did not destroy the progenitor star, with strong mass loss to have provided extra circumstellar extinction. We first review the Korean records and show that a spatial coincidence between the guest star and Cas A cannot be ruled out, as opposed to previous studies. Based on modern astrophysical findings on core-collapse SN, we argue that Cas A could have had an impostor and derive its anticipated properties. It turned out that the Cas A SN impostor must have been bright ($M_V=-14.7{\pm}2.2mag$) and an amount of dust with visual extinction of ${\geq}2.8{\pm}2.2mag$ should have formed in the ejected envelope and/or in a strong wind afterwards. The mass loss needs to have been spherically asymmetric in order to see the light echo from the SN event but not the one from the impostor event.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79.3-80
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• 2016

We have investigated the correlation analysis between global temperature anomaly and two main factors: geomagnetic activity (aa index) of Earth external factor and CO2 of Earth internal factor. For this, we used NOAA Global Surface Temperature anomaly (Ta) data from 1868 to 2015. The aa index indicates the geomagnetic activity measured at two anti-podal subauroral stations (Canberra Australia and Hartland England) and the CO2 data come from historical ice core records and NOAA/ESRL data. From the comparison between (Ta) and aa index, we found several interesting things, First, the linear correlation coefficient between two parameters increases until 1985 and then decreases rapidly. Second, the scattered plot between two parameters shows a boundary of the correlation tendency (positive and negative correlation) near 1985. A partial correlation of (Ta) and two main factors (aa index, CO2) also shows that the geomagnetic effect (aa index) is dominant until about 1985 and the CO2 effect becomes much more important after then. These results indicate that the CO2 effect become very an important factor since at least 1985. For a further analysis, we simply assume that Ta = Ta(aa)+Ta(CO2) and made a linear regression between (Ta) and aa index from 1868 to 2015. A linear model is then made from the linear regression between energy consumption (a proxy of CO2 effect) and Ta-Ta(aa) since 1985. Our results will be discussed in view of the prediction of global warming.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-320
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• 2008

We study on the astronomical calendars that was used in the Silla era. The calendars are deduced from the records in Samguksagi. They were influenced from calendaric system of Tang Dynasty, which are Lin duk calendar(麟德曆), Ta yen calendar(大衍曆) and Sun myung calendar(宣明曆). We analyse them in detail according to the time and duration of use. Water clock system of Unified Silla was used four water vessels for supplying water. We found the model from documents on ancient water clock that are appeared in the old Korean, Chinese and Japanese historical records. We have assumed the model of Unified Silla clepsydra is similar type with Chinese records during Tang dynasty and with Japanese reconstructed water clock in Temple Asoka. After fluid dynamic experiment, we decide the suitable diameter of supplying pipe and volume of the vessels used in the clepsydra. We introduce the experimental instruments and methods for accomplishing the clock. We designed and reconstructed the water clock of Unified Silla and float rods for measuring time, that is based on the Silla's calendaric system.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.63-73
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• 2007

In this paper, we introduce the performance test results of digital data processing system for KVN (Korean VLBI Network). The digital data processing system for KVN consists of DAS (Data Acquisition System) and high-speed recorder which called Mark5B system. DAS system performs the digitalization of analog radio signal through ADS-1000 gigabit sampler with 1 Gsps/2-bit and process the digital filtering of digital signal. Mark5B system records the output data of DFB (Digital Filter Bank) with about 1 Gbps. In this paper, we carried out the preliminary evaluation experiments of the KVN digital data processing system connected between DAS system and Mark5B with VSI (VLBI Standard Interface) interface which is designed for compatible in each VLBI system. We first performed all of the KVN digital data processing system connected by VSI interface in the world. In factory inspection phase, we found that the DAS system has a memory read/write error in DSM (Digital Spectrometer) by analyzing the recorded data in Mark5B system. We confirmed that the DSM memory error has been correctly solved by comparing DSM results with Mark5B results. The effectiveness of KVN digital data processing system has been verified through the preliminary experiments such as data transmission, recording with VSI interface connection and data analysis between DSM and Mark5B system. In future work, we will perform the real astronomical observation by using the KVN 21m radio telescopes so as to verify its stability and performance.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Numerous Sundials were fabricated during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty. One among them is Jeongnam-Ilgu (the Fixing-South Sundial), where the time can be measured after setting up the suitable meridian line without a compass. We reconstructed the new Jeongnam-Ilgu model based on the records of 'Description of Making the Royal Observatory Ganui (簡儀臺記)' in the Veritable Record of King Sejong. Jeongnam-Ilgu has a summer solstice half-ring under a horizontal ring which is fixed to two pillars in the north and south, and in which a declination ring rotates around the polar axis. In our model, the polar axis matches the altitude of Hanyang (that is Seoul). There are two merits if the model is designed to install the polar axis in the way that enters both the north and south poles and rotates in them: One is that it is possible to fix the polar axis to the declination ring together with the cross-strut. The other is that a twig for hanging weights can be protruded on the North Pole. The declination ring is supposed to be 178 mm in diameter and is carved on the scale of the celestial-circumference degrees on the ring's surface, where a degree scale can be divided into four equal parts through the diagonal lines. In addition, the time's graduation that is drawn on the summer solstice half-ring makes it possible to measure the daytime throughout the year. An observational property of Jeongnam-Ilgu is that a solar image can be obtained using a pin-hole. The position cast by the solar image between hour circles makes a time measurement. We hope our study will contribute to the restoration of Jeongnam-Ilgu.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2014

In this paper, we report the analysis of Korean historical records on the periodic Halley's comet according to the period (i.e., the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo Dynasty, and Joseon Dynasty) using various sources such as the Samguksagi (The History of the Three Kingdoms), Goryeosa (The History of the Goryeo Dynasty), and Joseonwangjosillok (The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty). With regards to the apparition time of the comet for each return, we referred to the works of Kronk. For the Three Kingdoms period, we could not find any record relevant to Halley's comet from the Samguksagi. Furthermore, we examined the suggestion that the phenomenon of "two Suns" which appeared on April 1, 760 (in a luni-solar calendar), as recorded in the Samgukyusa (The Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms), indicates an instance of the the daytime appearance of Halley's comet. In contrast with the Three Kingdoms period, we found that all returns of Halley's comet are recorded during the Goryeo Dynasty, although others have questioned some accounts. We also found that the appearance of Halley's comet in 1145 is mentioned in a spirit-path stele made in 1178. For the Joseon Dynasty period, we found that all apparitions of the comet are recorded, as with the Goryeo Dynasty, except for the return of 1910, at which time the former dynasty had fallen. In conclusion, we think that this study will be helpful for understanding Korean historical accounts on Halley's comet.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2012

This paper will introduce and overview in general the $Seongbyeon$ $Deungrok$ issued by the Gwansang-gam, the Astronomical Board in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. All the Chinese characters in the 1668 $Seongbyeon$ $Deungrok$ was deciphered at first and these were translated into Korean and English. With these translations and the word 'white vapor' in particular we discuss the nature of the main object in this $Deungrok$. Lastly, names of observers who engaged in the observations of this 1668 celestial, which are made as a by-product of this research, are introduced.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.79-95
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• 2021

This study aims to develop a restoration model of an armillary sphere of Tongcheon-ui (Pan-celestial Armillary Sphere) by referring to the records of Damheonseo (Hong Dae-Yong Anthology) and the artifact of an armillary sphere in the Korean Christian Museum of Soongsil University. Between 1760 and 1762, Hong, Dae-Yong (1731-1783) built Tongcheon-ui, with Na, Kyung-Jeok (1690-1762) designing the basic structure and Ann, Cheo-In (1710-1787) completing the assembly. The model in this study is a spherical body with a diameter of 510 mm. Tongcheon-ui operates the armillary sphere by transmitting the rotational power from the lantern clock. The armillary sphere is constructed in the fashion of a two-layer sphere: the outer one is Yukhab-ui that is fixed; and the inner one, Samsin-ui, is rotated around the polar axis. In the equatorial ring possessed by Samsin-ui, an ecliptic ring and a lunar-path ring are successively fixed and are tilted by 23.5° and 28.5° over the equatorial ring, respectively. A solar miniature attached to a 365-toothed inner gear on the ecliptic ring reproduces the annual motion of the Sun. A lunar miniature installed on a 114-toothed inner gear of the lunar-path ring can also replay the moon's orbital motion and phase change. By the set of 'a ratchet gear, a shaft and a spur gear' installed in the solstice-colure double-ring, the inner gears in the ecliptic ring and lunar-path ring can be rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation of Samsin-ui and then the solar and lunar miniatures can simulate their revolution over the period of a year and a month, respectively. In order to indicate the change of the moon phases, 27 pins were arranged in a uniform circle around the lunar-path ring, and the 29-toothed wheel is fixed under the solar miniature. At the center of the armillary sphere, an earth plate representing a world map is fixed horizontally. Tongcheon-ui is the armillary sphere clock developed by Confucian scholars in the late Joseon Dynasty, and the technical level at which astronomical clocks could be produced at the time is of a high standard.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.71.2-71.2
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• 2018

태양계 질량의 대부분은 플라즈마, 기체, 또는 액체 상태로 존재하며, 극히 일부만이 고체 즉 암석과 광물로 존재한다. 하지만, 반응 특히 혼합(mixing)이 일어나는 속도가 매우 느린 고체의 특성상 태양계의 탄생과 진화 과정의 기록은 고체태양계 물질에 더 잘 보관되어 있다. 지구를 제외한 고체 태양계 물질을 확보하기 위해서는 지구로 낙하한 암석인 운석(meteorites)을 발견하거나, 우주로 나가 시료를 가져와야 한다. 아폴로 미션(Apollo mission)에 의한 월석(lunar rocks) 채취(Papike et al., 1998), 하야부사 미션(Hayabusa mission)에 의한 소행성(asteroid) 시료 채취(Nakamura et al., 2011), 스타더스트 미션(Stardust mission)에 의한 혜성 시료 채취(Zolensky et al., 2006) 등이 후자에 속한다. 능동적으로 가져온 시료는 아직까지는 그 종류와 양에서 운석에 비해 매우 부족하므로 현재까지 우리가 알고 있는 고체 태양계에 관한 대부분은 운석 연구를 통해 얻어졌다. 운석은 크게 미분화운석 즉 콘드라이트(chondrites)와 분화운석(differentiated meteorites)으로 구분한다. 분화운석 중 일부는 달운석(lunar meteorites) 또는 화성운석(martian meteorites)이며, 나머지 분화운석과 콘드라이트는 암석-지구화학적 특징과 성인적 연관성에 의해 다양한 그룹으로 세분되는데 각 그룹은 하나의, 또는 둘 이상의 매우 유사한, 소행성에서 유래한 것으로 해석된다(Krot et al., 2014; 최변각 2009). 다양한 종류의 운석과 구성 광물에 포함된 기록으로는 (1) 태양계 이전 존재한 항성의 대기에서 생성된 광물, 즉 선태양계 광물(presolar grains), (2) 태양계 성운 탄생과 각 진화 단계의 정확한 시기, (3) 태양계 성운의 화학조성-동위원소 조성, 온도-압력 조건 등을 포함한 물리-화학적 특징, (4) 가스-먼지로부터 미행성, 소행성, 행성으로의 진화 과정, (5) 행성 진화의 열원, (6) 소행성 핵의 생성 과정 등이 있다. 강연에서는 이들을 간략히 살펴보고자 한다. 운석연구 등을 통해 태양계 생성과 진화과정에 관한 다양한 정보가 축적되었지만, 앞으로 연구할 것들이 더 많다. 또한 태양계 물질 중에는 운석의 형태로 지구로 들어왔거나 앞으로 들어올 수 있는 것도 있지만 그렇지 않은 것도 있다. 가스나 기체의 경우가 그러할 것이며, 고체지만 결합이 약해 일부라도 원형을 유지한 채 대기권을 통과 할 수 없는 것도 있을 것이다. 또 공전궤도나 중력 등 물리적 이유로 지구권 진입이 불가능한 것도 있다. 이러한 태양계 구성원에는 우리가 아직까지 얻지 못한 정보들이 다량 보존되어 있을 것이다. 미래의 태양계탐사가 기대되는 이유 중 하나이다.