• 천문학논총
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• 제32권2호
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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.

• 천문학논총
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

The National Foundation Day of Korea (개천절, 開天節) is currently celebrated on October 3 in Gregorian calendar. We review the history of dating the National Foundation Day of Korea and make a suggestion that it be celebrated on October 3 in the lunar calendar. We present numerous historical records on heaven-worship rites supporting the date October 3 in the lunar calendar. It is pointed out that October 3 in the solar calendar has been adopted in 1949 by the National Assembly with the thought that the lunar calendar is inferior and behind the times. The thought originates from misunderstanding on the value of the lunar calendar and from the ignorance of importance of history and tradition. Since there are now many national holidays that follow the lunar calendar, the logic of the National Assembly in 1949 also makes no sense. We emphasize that the lunar calendar should be followed for the National Foundation Day of Korea for its historical and symbolic characteristics restoration. We also investigate the year of the foundation of the first country of Korea, Dangun Joseon. It is found that even though the majority of the literature before late 15th century recorded the beginning year of Dangun Joseon dynasty to be equal to that of Liao Dynasty (堯), it was accidentally changed to the 25th year of Liao Dynasty in 1484 through a misinterpretation of the previous records. We claim that the beginning year of Dangun Joseon should be set to that of Liao Dynasty as recorded in the original literature in the earlier days. According to the two main opinions accepted by Korea, the beginning year of Liao Dynasty was 2357 B.C. or 2333 B.C., which correspond to the year of Gap-Jin (the 41st year of the sexagenary cycle) or Mu-Jin (the 4th year of the sexagenary cycle), respectively.

• 한국수학사학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.9-27
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• 1985

Islam toot a great interest in the utility sciences such as mathematics and astronomy as it needed them for the religious reasons. It needeed geometry to determine the direction toward Mecca, its holiest place: arithmetic and algebra to settle the dates of the festivals and to calculate the accounts lot the inheritance; astronomy to settle the dates of Ramadan and other festivals. Islam expanded and developed mathematics and sciences which it needed at first for the religious reasons to the benefit of all mankind. This thesis focuses upon the golden age of Islamic culture between 7th to 13th century, the age in which Islam came to possess the spirit of discovery and learning that opened the Islamic Renaissance and provided, in turn, Europeans with the setting for the Renaissance in 14th century. While Europe was still in the midst of the dark age of the feudal society based upon the agricultural economy and its mathematics was barey alive with the efforts of a few scholars in churches, the. Arabs played the important role of bridge between civilizations of the ancient and modern times. In the history of mathematics, the Arabian mathematics formed the orthodox, not collateral, school uniting into one the Indo-Arab and the Greco-Arab mathematics. The Islam scholars made a great contribution toward the development of civilization with their advanced the development of civilization with their advanced knowledge of algebra, arithmetic and trigonometry. the Islam mathematicians demonstrated the value of numerals by using arithmetic in the every day life. They replaced the cumbersome Roman numerals with the convenient Arabic numerals. They used Algebraic methods to solve the geometric problems and vice versa. They proved the correlation between these two branches of mathematics and established the foundation of analytic geometry. This thesis examines the historical background against which Islam united and developed the Indian and Greek mathematics; the reason why the Arabic numerals replaced the Roman numerals in the whole world: and the influence of the Arabic mathematics upon the development of the modern mathematics.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.39-72
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• 2004

《삼국사기》, 《고려사》, 《조선왕조실록》, 《승정원일기》 등 정통 한국 사서 원전에 수록되어 있는 천문관측 자료에서 별똥비와 별똥 소나기 기록을 검색하여 천문학적인 검토를 거쳐 그 목록을 작성하였다. 한국 사서에 나오는 별똥비 기록은 현재 국제 학계에 1958년 Imoto와 Hasegawa가 영문으로 발표한 논문이 표준이 되고 있는데, 이 문헌은 주로 1917년에 조선총독부에서 주관한 연구과제의 일환으로 일본인 관구리길가 작성한 보고서를 바탕으로 하고 있다. 그가 만든 목록은 날짜나 원전 인용 상의 오류를 상당히 포함하고 있으므로 본 연구에서는 한국의 정사서 원전을 검색하여 철저한 고증을 거쳐 수정되고 확장된 별똥비 및 별똥 소나기 목록을 작성하였다. 그 결과 지난 2천년 동안 한국의 역사서에는 별똥 소나기가 25번, 센별똥비가 4번, 보통 별똥비가 5번 기록되어 있었다. 그 가운데 일부는 사자자리 별똥비, 페르세우스 별똥비, 핼리혜성의 의해 생기는 물병자리-/sub n/ 별똥비와 오리온자리 별똥비 등에 속한 것으로 보이는 것이 있었으나, 상당히 많은 기록들은 이에 속하지 않았다. 본 연구에서 제시한 목록은 추후 많은 천체물리학적 연구에 유용할 것이다.

• 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.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.163-172
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• 2011

An intensive analysis of 185 timings of WZ Cep, including our new three timings, was made to understand the dynamical picture of this active W UMa-type binary. It was found that the orbital period of the system has complexly varied in two cyclical components superposed on a secularly downward parabola over about 80y. The downward parabola, corresponding to a secular period decrease of $-9.{^d}97{\times}10^{-8}y^{-1}$, is most probably produced by the action of both angular momentum loss (AML) due to magnetic braking and mass-transfer from the massive primary component to the secondary. The period decrease rate of $-6.^{d}72{\times}10^{-8}y^{-1}$ due to AML contributes about 67% to the observed period decrease. The mass flow of about $5.16{\times}10^{-8}M_{\odot}y^{-1}$ from the primary to the secondary results the remaining 33% period decrease. Two cyclical components have an $11.^{y}8$ period with amplitude of $0.^{d}0054$ and a $41.^{y}3$ period with amplitude of $0.^{d}0178$. It is very interesting that there seems to be exactly in a commensurable 7:2 relation between their mean motions. As the possible causes, two rival interpretations (i.e., light-time effects (LTE) by additional bodies and the Applegate model) were considered. In the LTE interpretation, the minimum masses of $0.30M_{\odot}$ for the shorter period and $0.49M_{\odot}$ for the longer one were calculated. Their contributions to the total light were at most within 2%, if they were assumed to be main-sequence stars. If the LTE explanation is true for the WZ Cep system, the 7:2 relation found between their mean motions would be interpreted as a stable 7:2 orbit resonance produced by a long-term gravitational interaction between two tertiary bodies. In the Applegate model interpretation, the deduced model parameters indicate that the mechanism could work only in the primary star for both of the two period modulations, but could not in the secondary. However, we couldn't find any meaningful relation between the light variation and the period variability from the historical light curve data. At present, we prefer the interpretation of the mechanical perturbation from the third and fourth stars as the possible cause of two cycling period changes.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.299-320
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• 2008

당나라 때 사용하던 역법들과 우리나라삼국사기의 기록을 근거로 신라시대에 사용한 역법에 대하여 알아보았다. 특히 신라역법에 결정적 영향을 준 당(庸)나라 역법들을 시대순으로 살펴보고 신라시대에 사용한 것으로 보이는 역법에 대하여 분석하였다. 주로 신라시대 사용한 역법은 인덕력(麟德曆), 대연력(大衍曆), 선명력(宣明曆)등이 있음을 밝혔다. 아울러 당시 누각전(漏刻殿)에서 사용한 누각(漏刻)의 복원설계를 위해 삼국사기와 중국과 일본의 누각 관련 자료를 찾아 살펴본 결과 통일신라시대는 사급보상식부전루를 사용함을 알게 되었다. 중국 문헌과 일본 아스카사(비조사, 飛鳥寺)에 복원해 놓은 물시계 모델을 참고하여 신라시대에 사용한 물시계 종류와 구조를 대략 추측할 수 있었다. 이 연구에서는 사급보상식루각 설계를 위해 파수호의 관을 통해 공급되는 물의 양과 관의 직경에 따른 변화를 알아보는 유속 측정기를 직접 제작하여 실험하였다. 그리고 이 장치를 소개하고 실험 방법에서 얻어진 결과를 제시하고 신라시대 물시계의 사급보상식루각(四級補像式漏刻)의 개념 설계를 실시하였다. 이에 따라 신라의 역법에 근거하여 당시에 사용한 부전(浮箭)과 함께 복원 설계도를 완성하였다.

• 우주기술과 응용
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.217-240
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• 2021

본 논문은 다가오는 달 유인 탐사시대를 대비하여 달의 지형 및 지질학적 기초 지식을 우주과학자들에게 소개한다. 달 지형 용어에 대한 학술적 기원을 간단히 정리하였으며, 현재 통용되는 한글 용어를 확장하여 새로운 지형 용어들을 제안하였다. 특히, 일반인도 꼭 알아야 할 대표적인 달의 지형으로 1 대양(폭풍의 대양), 10대 바다(비의 바다, 평온의 바다, 고요의 바다, 감로주의 바다, 풍요의 바다, 위난의 바다, 증기의 바다, 인식의 바다, 습기의 바다, 구름의 바다), 6대 충돌구(티코, 코페르니쿠스, 케플러, 아리스타쿠스, 스테비누스, 랑그레누스)를 제안한다. 달의 지형으로 고원(highland), 바다(maria), 산맥(mountains), 충돌구(crater), 함몰 용암굴/열구(rille, rima), 지구대(graben), 돔(dome), 용암동굴(lava tube), 주름 능선(wrinkle ridge), 참호(trench), 절벽(rupes), 그리고 달의 표면 흙을 표토(regolith)로 사용할 것을 제안한다. 또한, 달의 내부 구조 표준 모델과 대표적 암석을 소개하였다. 지구의 지질 시대구분은 발견 화석과 방사성 동위원소를 이용한 절대연령 측정을 기준으로 하는 반면, 표준적인 달의 지질 시대 구분은 대표적인 충돌구 형성을 기준으로 선-넥타리스 기(Pre-Nectarian), 넥타리스 기(Nectarian), 임브리움 기(Imbrian), 에라토스네스 기(Erathostenesian), 코페르니쿠스 기(Copernican)로 나뉜다. 마지막으로 인간의 달 활용에 획기적인 계기가 되는 최근의 달 표면 물 발견에 대한 내용을 정리하였으며, 향후 한국지질자원연구원에서 개발될 물 채취 장치의 개념도 소개하였다.

• 천문학논총
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• 제15권spc1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2000

We review the early historical developement of astronomical spectrographs, properties of emission line spectra of HII regions in spiral galaxies, and absorption line features of galactic globular clusters. Emission line spectra of HII regions within three spiral galaxies NGC 300, NGC 1365, and NGC 7793, which were observed from AAT/IPCS, had been analysed, and we discuss the abundances of elements in HII regions and the radial abundace gradients through the galaxies. The radial UBV color variations of two globular clusters, NGC 1851 and NGC 2808, were examined for correlations with radial variations of several absorption lines in the integrated spectra, which were obtained from SAAO 74 inch telescope and image tube spectrograph. Nine giant star's spectra in NGC 3201 were also obtained and analysed for the radial abundance gradients in the globular cluster. The results show that the presence of a radial color gradient in a globular cluster is correlated with the presence of abundance gradients. Finally, we suggest some scientific programs for the new high dispersion spectrograph, which will be installed to the BOAO 1.8m telescope.

• 천문학논총
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2016

We study a manuscript that includes 28 oriental constellations in the flags of barracks in Gangjin. According to the Joseon Chronicles, the constellation flags in the manuscript are thought to have originated from Seon-Pil Kim (金善弼) who first made 28 constellation flags for the barracks in 1878 during the Joseon Dynasty. Seon-Pil Kim was a commander and he used the 28 constellation flags for communications in a military camp. The flags also contain 28 animals and letter-like symbols with constellation maps. We examine the constellation maps in flags in terms of shapes and number of stars, and compare them with those of constellations in the Korean and Chinese star charts such as CheonSangYeolChaBunYaJiDo (天象列次分野之圖), Joseon-Butienge (朝鮮步天歌), Suzhou (蘇州) Star Chart, and Tang-Butiange (唐步天歌). Finally, we found that the shape of constellations in the flags might be similar to those in the Chinese Tang-Butienge. We also found several errors such as the shape, connecting pattern, and number of constellations drawn in the flags. It seems that the constellation flags were unofficially used in military camps in the late Joseon dynasty. Meanwhile, the 28 constellations are divided into four groups and each group has its own color and direction. We suppose that the constellation flags might represent the positions of military camps and each group of flags has their own color based on their cardinal points.