The International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) was established by the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society in order to disseminate astronomical knowledge, promote international cooperation in astronomical education area and recognize the importance of astronomy in far-reaching field of science and human culture. The first IAO competition was held at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences located in the north Caucasus of Russia in 1996. Since then, it has been held every year. This paper describes the present status of the IAO main regulations regarding its operation and major results by year, related institutions, and organizations. We created a scientific inquiry framework to analyze past IAO problems in the recognitive aspect in order to measure levels of the scientific knowledges and the scientific thinking abilities. Through this analysis, we can understand the current status of the IAO, and examine the future direction of Korea Astronomy Olympiad. Also, we can make preparation for the IAO competition and the education of delegates.

A series of high resolution spectra of CH Cygni obtained at the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO) in April 2004 has been analyzed. The emission components of the [O I] 6300 A lines are de-convoluted and fitted with Gaussian functions in order to investigate the characteristics and the structure of CH Cygni system along with the analysis for Hα and [O III] lines. A present geometrical structure of the components of CH Cygni system is suggested.

The problem of the collapse of a self gravitating disk is here considered. We show self-similar solutions for the above problem under a modified viscous parameter. Surface density depends on rm in the inner region, where m is -1.6. Therefore growing central mass goes on without mass inflow to the system.

Five contemporary pre-main sequence (PMS) evolution model grids are compared with the photo-metric data for a nearly complete sample of low-mass members in NGC 2264. From amongst the grids compared, the models of Baraffe et al. (1998) prove to be the most reliable in mass-age distribution. To overcome the limited mass range of the models of Baraffe et al. we derived a simple transformation relation between the mass of a PMS star from Swenson et al. (1994) and that from Baraffe et al., and applied it to the PMS stars in NGC 2264 and the Orion nebula cluster (ONC). The resulting initial mass function (IMF) of the ONC shows that the previous interpretation of the IMF is not a real feature, but an artifact caused by the evolution models adopted. The IMFs of both clusters are in a good agreement with the IMF of the field stars in the solar neighborhood. This result supports the idea proposed by Lada, Strom, & Myers (1993) that the field stars originate from the stars that are formed in clusters and spread out as a result of dynamical dissociation. Nevertheless, the IMFs of OB associations and young open clusters show diverse behavior. For the low-mass regime, the current observations suffer from difficulties in membership assignment and sample incompleteness. From this, we conclude that a more thorough study of young open clusters is necessary in order to make any definite conclusions on the existence of a universal IMF.

The molecular cloud associated with the H II region S301 has been mapped in the J = 1-0 transitions of 12CO and 13CO using the 13.7 m radio telescope of Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory. The cloud is elongated along the north-south direction with two strong emission components facing the H II region. Its total mass is 8.7 × 10 3 M⊙. We find a velocity gradient of the molecular gas near the interface with the optical H II region, which may be a signature of interaction between the molecular cloud and the H II region. Spectra of CO, CS, and HCO+ exhibit line splitting even in the densest part of the cloud and suggests the clumpy structure. The radio continuum maps show that the ionzed gas is distributed with some asymmetry and the eastern part of the H II region is obscured by the molecular cloud. We propose that the S301 H II region is at the late stage of the champagne phase, but the second generation of stars has not yet been formed in the postshock layer.

UBV RI and Hα photometry has been performed for the open cluster NGC 6531. A total of 56 bright main sequence (MS) members were selected from their positions in photometric diagrams. We also classified 7 pre-main sequence (PMS) stars and 6 PMS candidates with Hα emission from Hα photometry. We determined a reddening of < E(B - V) >= 0.29 ± 0.03 and a distance modulus of Vo - Mv = 10.5 for the cluster. From the comparison of our photometric results to theoretical evolution models, we derived a MS turnoff age of 7.5 Myr and a PMS age spread of ~4 Myr. The IMF slope Γ, calculated in the mass range of 0.45 ≤ log m ≤ 1.35 is a steep value of Γ = -1.8 ±0.6.

The groundnut or cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Korea consists of 36 domestic varieties which have been developed and registered as cultivars for the public during last 25 years. To screen and identify of Korean peanut varieties and genetic resources, we present a simple and reliable method. A methodology based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed and widely used for prominent gene identification and variety discrimination. For identification of those 36 Korean peanut varieties, 238 unique peanut SSR markers were selected from some previously reported results, synthesized and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were taken through acryl amide gel electrophoresis and changed into proper formats for application of data mining analysis using Biomine (all-in-one functional genomics data mining program). Consequently, twelve SSR primers were investigated and revealed the differences between those 36 varieties. These primer pairs amplified 27 alleles with an average of 2.3 allele per primer pair. In addition, those results showed genetic relationship by classification method within 36 varieties. The approach described here could be applied to monitoring of our varieties and adapting to peanut breeding program.