• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.76.1-76.1
• /
• 2019

After the first identification of electromagnetic counterpart of gravitational wave source (GW170817), era of multi-messenger astronomy has begun. For specifying coordinate, magnitude, and host galaxy information, optical follow-up observation of GW source becomes important. The O3 run of LIGO / VIRGO started after April 2019. We present searching strategy of GW optical counterpart using the KMTNet. By performing tiling observation of high probability area in GW localization map, we expect to observe early light-curve of GW optical counterpart. We will also present observation result for three gravitational wave events of binary black hole mergers. After identification of optical counterpart, we will study collision mechanism, progenitor, and characteristics of host galaxy using observation data of GW source.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.319-332
• /
• 2011

The objectives of this study are to analyze the satellite visibility at the randomly established ground sites, to determine the five optimal ground sites to perform the optical surveillance and tracking of domestic satellites, and to verify the acquisition of the optical observation time sufficient to maintain the precise ephemeris at optimal ground sites that have been already determined. In order to accomplish these objectives, we analyzed the visibility for sun-synchronous orbit satellites, low earth orbit satellites, middle earth orbit satellites and domestic satellites as well as the continuous visibility along with the fictitious satellite ground track, and calculate the effective visibility. For the analysis, we carried out a series of repetitive process using the satellite tool kit simulation software developed by Analytical Graphics Incorporated. The lighting states of the penumbra and direct sun were set as the key constraints of the optical observation. The minimum of the observation satellite elevation angle was set to be 20 degree, whereas the maximum of the sun elevation angle was set to be -10 degree which is within the range of the nautical twilight. To select the candidates for the optimal optical observation, the entire globe was divided into 84 sectors in a constant interval, the visibility characteristics of the individual sectors were analyzed, and 17 ground sites were arbitrarily selected and analyzed further. Finally, five optimal ground sites (Khurel Togoot Observatory, Assy-Turgen Observatory, Tubitak National Observatory, Bisdee Tier Optical Astronomy Observatory, and South Africa Astronomical Observatory) were determined. The total observation period was decided as one year. To examine the seasonal variation, the simulation was performed for the period of three days or less with respect to spring, summer, fall and winter. In conclusion, we decided the optimal ground sites to perform the optical surveillance and tracking of domestic satellites and verified that optical observation time sufficient to maintain the precise ephemeris could be acquired at the determined observatories.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.169-180
• /
• 2019

In this study, a batch least square estimator that utilizes optical observation data is developed and utilized to determine geostationary orbits (GEO). Through numerical simulations, the effects of error sources, such as clock errors, measurement noise, and the a priori state error, are analyzed. The actual optical tracking data of a GEO satellite, the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), provided by the optical wide-field patrol network (OWL-Net) is used with the developed batch filter for orbit determination. The accuracy of the determined orbit is evaluated by comparison with two-line elements (TLE) and confirmed as proper for the continuous monitoring of GEO objects. Also, the measurement residuals are converged to several arcseconds, corresponding to the OWL-Net performance. Based on these analyses, it is verified that the independent operation of electro-optic space surveillance systems is possible, and the ephemerides of space objects can be obtained.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 1996

We present test results of time-series CCD photometry to investigate the photometric precision of the BOAO (Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory) 1.8m telescope. A well-known field of the old open cluster M67, which includes two pulsating blue stragglers and two W UMa type binaries, was monitored for 3.5 hours on February 22, 1996. We have collected 148 V frames and 3 B frames. Photometric noises which consist mainly of photon noise and scintillation noise, were lowered down to about 1.9 mmag for stars of $10.\;^m5$ in M67 with exposure time of 20 seconds. From the C-M diagram for M67, a number of observational properties were derived; E(B-V) = 0.03, (V-Mv)o = 9.6, Age = 4 Gyr. We obtained light curves for four known variable stars and confirmed their variational characteristics. The pulsating blue stragglers show a low amplitude (about 0.01 mag) of light variation.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2015

Several optical monitoring strategies by a ground-based telescope to protect a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite from collisions with close approaching objects were investigated. Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) objects, Inclined GeoSynchronous Orbit (IGSO) objects, and drifted GEO objects forced by natural perturbations are hazardous to operational GEO satellites regarding issues related to close approaches. The status of these objects was analyzed on the basis of their orbital characteristics in Two-Line Element (TLE) data from the Joint Space Operation Center (JSpOC). We confirmed the conjunction probability with all catalogued objects for the domestic operational GEO satellite, Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) using the Conjunction Analysis Tools by Analytical Graphics, Inc (AGI). The longitudinal drift rates of GeoSynchronous Orbit (GSO) objects were calculated, with an analytic method and they were confirmed using the Systems Tool Kit by AGI. The required monitoring area was determined from the expected drift duration and inclination of the simulated target. The optical monitoring strategy for the target area was analyzed through the orbit determination accuracy. For this purpose, the close approach of Russian satellite Raduga 1-7 to Korean COMS in 2011 was selected.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.41-45
• /
• 2001

We tested the characteristics of the BOAO Medium Dispersion Spectrograph (MDS) such as the CCD capabilities, wavelength shift by gravity direction variation, slit illumination function and efficiency. Then we calculated the appropriate exposure time to obtain the given S/N ratio for several given magnitudes. Also the remaining problems to be improved were discussed.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2007.02a
• /
• pp.24-25
• /
• 2007

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.47-62
• /
• 1997

In this paper we present a newly improved telescope control software and a newly developed data analysis software package for effective use of the Solar Flare Telescope(SOFT) The telescope control software permits us to make not only auto tacking of the SOFT, but also quantitative measurement of the solar irradiation, allowing us to provide weather monitorings. In addition we introduce an IDL widget software package for both monochromatioc (MONO version) and polarimetric data (VMG version) analysis. The MONO version is capable of loading FITS files, changing colors and contrast, image processing, displaying plots, and saving displayed plots by selected formats The VMG version, on the other hand provides a calibration of polarimetric data and plots of reduced vector magnetic fields.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.337-343
• /
• 2010

Optical observation system provides angle-only measurement for orbit determination of space object. Range measurement can be directly acquired using laser ranging or tone ranging system. Initial orbit determination (IOD) by using angle- only data set shows discrepancy according to the measurement time interval. To solve this problem, range measurement data should be added for IOD. In this study, two-site optical observation was used to derive the range information. We have observed nine geostationary earth orbit satellites by using two-site optical observation system. The determination result of the range shows the accuracy over 99.5% compared to the results from the satellite tool kit simulation. And we confirmed that the orbit determination by the Herrick-Gibbs method with the range information obtained from the two-site observation is more accurate than the orbit determination by Gauss method with the one-site observation. For more accurate two-site optical observation, a baseline should satisfy an optimal condition of length and more precise observation system needed.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2001

Recently, we have set up a new digital CCD camera system, MicroMax YHS-1300 manufactured by Roper Scientific for Ha observation by Solar Flare Telescope at Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory. It has a 12 bit dynamic range, a pixel number of 1300$\times$1030, a thermoelectric cooler, and an electric shutter. Its readout speed is about 3 frames per second and the dark current is about 0.05 e-/p/s at $-10^{\circ}C$. We have made a system performance test by confirming the system linearity, system gain, and system noise that its specification requires. We have also developed a data acquisition software which connects a digital camera con-troller to a PC and acquires H$\alpha$ images via Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 under Windows 98. Comparisons of high quality H$\alpha$ images of AR 9169 and AR 9283 obtained from SOFT with the corresponding images from Learmonth Solar Observatory in Australia confirm that our H$\alpha$ digital observational system is performed properly. Finally, we present a set of H$\alpha$ images taken from a two ribbon flare occurred in AR 9283.