본 연구의 목적은 고등학교 지구과학 교육에서 쉽게 다룰 수 있는 소형 망원경과 DSLR 카메라를 활용하여 산개성단을 관측하고, 이를 통해 수집한 데이터를 활용하여 천문학자들과 같은 연구 방법으로 산개성단까지의 거리를 탐구할 수 있는 천체 관측 교육 프로그램을 개발하는 것이다. 2015개정 과학과 교육과정을 분석하여 고등학교 지구과학 교과 교육에 적합한 과학 동아리 활동 수업 자료와 교사용-학생용 학습 콘텐츠를 개발했다. 지구과학 교육과 천문학 분야의 전문가(교사) 6명이 패널로 참가하였고, 패널들 간의 상호간 신뢰도를 구축한 후, 프로그램의 타당도를 검증했다. 총 10차시 수업자료로 개발된 프로그램은 내용타당도(CVI. .89)와 현장 적합성 정도(리커트 5점 척도, 4.17) 검사에서 매우 만족스러운 검증 결과를 받았다. 프로그램에 대한 패널들의 의견 반영과 델파이 분석으로 개발 프로그램을 지속적으로 수정-개선하여 완성하였다. 개발된 프로그램을 고등학교 천체 동아리 학생들(N=9)을 대상으로 시범적 예비수업에 적용한 결과, 학생들의 수업 만족도가 4.48로 매우 높았다. 본 연구의 천체 관측 교육 프로그램을 천체 탐구의 융합교육 활동으로 활용한다면 학생들의 우주와 천체에 대한 관심과 호기심, 탐구 능력 증진에 기여할 수 있을 것이다.

We present the first results of the invariant point (IVP) coordinates of the KVN Ulsan and Tamna radio telescopes. To determine the IVP coordinates in the geocentric frame (ITRF2014), a coordinate transformation method from the local frame, in which it is possible to survey using the optical instrument, to the geocentric frame was adopted. The least-square circles are fitted in three dimensions using the Gauss-Newton method to determine the azimuth and elevation axes in the local frame. The IVP in the local frame is defined as the mean value of the intersection points of the azimuth axis and the orthogonal vector between the azimuth and elevation axes. The geocentric coordinates of the IVP are determined by obtaining the seven transformation parameters between the local frame and the east-north-up (ENU) geodetic frame. The axis-offset between the azimuth and elevation axes is also estimated. To validate the results, the variation of coordinates of the GNSS station installed at KVN Ulsan was compared to the movement of the IVP coordinates over 9 months, showing good agreement in both magnitude and direction. This result will provide an important basis for geodetic and astrometric applications.

This paper reviews the legacy of the SPCIA Coronagraph Instrument (SCI) of which the primary scientic 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.

We present the development of a spectral dispersion device for wideband spectroscopy for which the primary scientic objective is the characterization of transiting exoplanets. The principle of the disperser is simple: a grating is fabricated on the surface of a prism. The direction of the spectral dispersion power of the prism is crossed with the grating. Thus, the prism separates the spectrum into individual orders while the grating produces a spectrum for each order. In this work, ZnS was selected as the material for the cross disperser, which was designed to cover the wavelength region, ⋋ = 0.6-13 μm, with a spectral resolving power, R ≥ 50. A disperser was fabricated, and an evaluation of its surface was conducted. Two spectrometer designs, one adopting ZnS (⋋ = 0.6-13 μm, R ≥ 300) and the other adopting CdZnTe (⋋ = 1-23 μm, R ≥ 250), are presented. The spectrometers, each of which has no moving mechanical parts, consist simply of a disperser, a focusing mirror, and a detector.

The Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) is a wide-eld photometric system installed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). Here, we present the overall technical specications of the KMTNet observation system, test observation results, data transfer and image processing procedure, and nally, the KMTNet science programs. The system consists of three 1.6 m wide-eld optical telescopes equipped with mosaic CCD cameras of 18k by 18k pixels. Each telescope provides a 2.0 by 2.0 square degree eld of view. We have nished installing all three telescopes and cameras sequentially at the Cerro-Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in South Africa, and the Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) in Australia. This network of telescopes, which is spread over three dierent continents at a similar latitude of about 􀀀30 degrees, enables 24-hour continuous monitoring of targets observable in the Southern Hemisphere. The test observations showed good image quality that meets the seeing requirement of less than 1.0 arcsec in I-band. All of the observation data are transferred to the KMTNet data center at KASI via the international network communication and are processed with the KMTNet data pipeline. The primary scientic goal of the KMTNet is to discover numerous extrasolar planets toward the Galactic bulge by using the gravitational microlensing technique, especially earth-mass planets in the habitable zone. During the non-bulge season, the system is used for wide-eld photometric survey science on supernovae, asteroids, and external galaxies.

We have designed and built three cost effective observatories, in distinct models, which can house Schmidt - Cassegrain type small telescopes having aperture sizes up to 16 inches. Using the available small telescopes, we provided the people of Manipura State in the far north-east corner of India the opportunity to observe directly with their own eyes the rare, spectacular events of the solar eclipse of January 15, 2010, lunar eclipse of December 10, 2011 and the transit of Venus of June 6, 2012. Apart from sharing a platform with the public for astronomy education and popularization through public outreach programs such as workshops, seminars and night watch programs, we have also developed a laboratory infrastructure and gained expertise in observational techniques based on photoelectric photometry, CCD imaging, CCD photometry and spectroscopy. Our team has become a partner in the ongoing international `Orion project' headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, USA which will be producing high quality photometric and spectroscopic data for five stars in the Orion constellation, namely Betelgeuse (alpha Orionis), Rigel (beta Orionis), Mintaka (delta Orionis), Alnilam (epsilon Orionis) and Alnitak (zeta Orionis). In the present paper, the authors would like to give a detailed report of their activities for the growth of astronomy in the state of Manipur, India.

A group of universities have come together with the aim of designing and developing Small Aperture Robotic Telescopes (SmART) for use by students to observe variable stars and transient follow-ups. The group is deliberating on the components of the robotic system; e.g. the telescope, the mount, the back-end camera, control software, and their integration keeping in mind the scientific objectives. The prototype might then be replicated by all the participating universities to provide round the clock observations from sites spread evenly in longitude across the globe. Progress made so far is reported in this paper.