• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2024

This study conducted unstructured interviews with college students to explore changes in their perceptions before and after receiving education on exoplanets. The analysis utilized thematic analysis. The results are as follows: First, the exoplanet education program enhanced students' knowledge about exoplanets and increased their interest and curiosity about space. Second, students deepened their understanding of the importance of exoplanet exploration and the various methods of such exploration. Third, students recognized that exoplanet exploration holds significant importance for humanity in various aspects and acknowledged the need for education on exoplanets. These findings can provide important insights for the development and application of future educational programs related to exoplanets.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2012

This paper reports the progress of a search for exoplanets with S-type orbits in short-period binary star systems. The selected targets have stellar orbital periods of just a few days. These systems are eclipsing binaries so that exoplanet transits, if planets exist, will be highly likely. We report the results for seven binary star systems.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2023

The Titius-Bode's relation has been historically successful in predicting the location of Ceres in the solar system, while its physical basis remains hidden. In this study, we attempt to answer the question of whether the Titius-Bode's relation is universally valid for exoplanetary systems with plural exoplanets. For this purpose, we statistically study the distribution of the ratio of the orbiting periods of two planets in 32 exoplanetary systems hosted by a single star. We only consider the period ratios derived from exoplanets orbiting a single star since celestial objects under investigation are kept as simple as possible and free from uncertainties such as the mass of the host star. We find that the distribution of period ratios of two exoplanets appears inconsistent with that derived from the Titius-Bode's relation using the χ² test. We also found that the distance distribution in exoplanetary systems unlikely follows the uniform distribution or the Poisson's distribution. It is noted, however, that more rigorous statistical tests should be carried out to reach a more certain conclusion.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 2023

More than 5,000 exoplanets have been detected nowadays. One of the key motivations of exoplanet detection is to understand what physical/chemical conditions of exoplanets are suitable for harboring extraterrestrial life. Such conditions are called "habitability," and most modern studies assume the existence of liquid water as its key factor. In this paper, we review the current status of exoplanet and habitability studies, as well as some future (habitable) exoplanet survey plans, mostly from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018, 2021). Also, we suggest several research items that the Korean astronomy and space science community could contribute to habitability.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.347-349
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• 2017

This paper reviews the legacy of the SPCIA Coronagraph Instrument (SCI) of which the primary scientific objective is the characterization of Jovian exoplanets by coronagraphic spectroscopy in the infrared. Studies on binary shaped pupil mask coronagraphs are described. Cryogenic active optics is discussed as another key technology. Then approaches to observing habitable zones in exoplanetary systems with a passively-cooled space infrared telescope are discussed. The SCI was dropped in a drastic change of the SPICA mission. However, its legacy is useful for space-borne infrared telescopes dedicated for use in exoplanetary science in the future, especially for studies of biomarkers.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.59.3-59.3
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• 2016

We report the results of search for exoplanets by a precise radial velocity (RV) survey by using the high-resolution spectroscopy of the fiber-fed Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph (BOES) at Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO). Since 2003, we have conducted a precise RV survey for ~500 stars, including 55 K giants, ~200 G giants, 10 M giants, 40 K dwarfs, and ~200 northern circumpolar stars. We present the detection of around 20 new exoplanets and brown dwarfs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27.2-27.2
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• 2011

The Kepler(NASA) and CoRoT(ESA) space telescopes are surveying thousands of exoplanet for finding Earth-like exoplanets with similar environments of the Earth. Then the TPF(NASA), DARWIN(ESA) and many large-aperture ground telescopes have plan for spectroscopic observations of these earth-like exoplanets in next decades. Now, it has been started to simulate the disk averaged spectra of the earthlike exoplanets for comparing the observed spectra and suggesting solutions of environment of these planets. Previous research, the simulations are based on radiative transfer method, but these are limited by optical models of Earth system and instruments. We introduce a new simulation method, IRT(Integrated Ray Tracing) to overcome limitations of previous method. The 3 components are defined in IRT; 1)Sun model, 2)Earth system model (Atmosphere, Land and Ocean), 3)Instrument model. The ray tracing in IRT is simulated in composed 3D real scale space from inside the sun model to the detector of instrument. The Sun model has hemisphere structure with Lambertian scattering optical model. Atmosphere is composed of 16 distributed structures and each optical model includes BSDF with using 6SV radiative transfer code. Coastline and 5 kinds of vegetation distribution data are used to land model structure, and its non-Lambertian scattering optical model is defined with the semi-empirical "parametric kernel method" used for MODIS(NASA) and POLDER(CNES) missions. The ocean model includes sea ice cap structure with the monthly sea ice area variation, and sea water optical model which is considering non-lambertian sun-glint scattering. Computation of spectral imaging and radiative transfer performance of Earth system model is tested with hypothetical space instrument in IRT model. Then we calculated the disk averaged spectra of the Earth system model in IRT computation model for 8 cases; 4 viewing orientation cases with full illuminated phase, and 4 illuminated phase cases in a viewing orientation. Finally the DAS results are compared with previous researching results of radiative transfer method.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.61.2-61.2
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• 2021

We present the current focus issues on biosignature and life in the Solar System and exoplanters considering the possible research items at KASI in collaboration with other fields and institutes. We also suggest possible KASI research projects that can be conducted in the next decade.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.76.2-76.2
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• 2012

The understanding spectral characterization of possible earth-like extra solar planets has generated wide interested in astronomy and space science. The technical central issue in observation of exoplanet is deconvolution of the temporally and disk-averaged spectra of the exoplanets. The earth model based on atmospheric radiative transfer method has been studied in recent years for solutions of characterization of earthlike exoplanet. In this study, we report on the current progress of the new method of 3D earth model as a habitable exoplanet. The computational model has 3 components 1) the sun model, 2) an integrated earth BRDF (Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function) model (Atmosphere, Land and Ocean) and 3) instrument model combined in ray tracing computation. The ray characteristics such as radiative power and direction are altered as they experience reflection, refraction, transmission, absorption and scattering from encountering with each all of optical surfaces. The Land BRDF characteristics are defined by the semi-empirical "parametric-kernel-method" from POLDER missions from CNES. The ocean BRDF is defined for sea-ice cap structure and for the sea water optical model, considering sun-glint scattering. The input cloud-free atmosphere model consists of 1 layers with vertical profiles of absorption and aerosol scattering combined Rayleigh scattering and its input characteristics using the NEWS product in NASA data and spectral SMARTS from NREL and 6SV from Vermote E. The trial simulation runs result in phase dependent disk-averaged spectra and light-curves of a virtual exoplanet using 3D earth model.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2020

We report the detection of exoplanet candidates in orbits around HD 60292 and HD 112640 from a radial velocity (RV) survey. The stars exhibit RV variations with periods of 495 ±3 days and 613±6 days, respectively. These detections are part of the Search for Exoplanets around Northern Circumpolar Stars (SENS) survey using the fiber-fed Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph installed at the 1.8-m telescope of the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory in Korea. The aim of the survey is to search for planetary or substellar companions. We argue that the periodic RV variations are not related to surface inhomogeneities; rather, Keplerian motions of planetary companions are the most likely interpretation. Assuming stellar masses of 1.7 ± 0.2M_⊙ (HD 60292) and 1.8 ± 0.2M_⊙ (HD 112640), we obtain minimum planetary companion masses of 6.5 ± 1.0M_Jup and 5.0 ± 1.0M_Jup, and periods of 495.4 ± 3.0 days and 613.2 ± 5.8 days, respectively.