SOMANGNET: SMALL TELESCOPE NETWORK OF KOREA

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society, 54(3) pp. 89 - 102
• Main Authors: MYUNGSHIN IM, Yonggi Kim, 이충욱, 이희원, 박수종, Hyunjin Shim, Hyun-Il Sung, Wonseok Kang, Taewoo Kim, Jeong-Eun Heo, HINSE TOBIAS CORNELIUS, Masateru Ishiguro, 임구, Cuc T. K. Lý, Gregory S. H. Paek, 서진국, Joh-Na Yoon, 우종학, 안호재, 조호진, Changsu Choi, Jimin Han, Sungyong Hwang, Tae-Geun Ji, 이성국, 이수민, 이선우, 김창곤, Dohoon Kim, 김준호, Sophia Kim, Mankeun Jeong, Bomi Park, Insu Paek, 김도형, 박창범
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국천문학회 01.06.2021
• Subjects: 천문학
• ISSN: 1225-4614; 2288-890X
• DOI: 10.5303/JKAS.2021.54.3.89

Even in an era where 8-meter class telescopes are common, small telescopes are considered very valuable research facilities since they are available for rapid follow-up or long term monitoring observations. To maximize the usefulness of small telescopes in Korea, we established the SomangNet, a network of 0.4-1.0 m class optical telescopes operated by Korean institutions, in 2020. Here, we give an overview of the project, describing the current participating telescopes, its scientific scope and operation mode, and the prospects for future activities. SomangNet currently includes 10 telescopes that are located in Australia, USA, and Chile as well as in Korea. The operation of many of these telescopes currently relies on operators, and we plan to upgrade them for remote or robotic operation. The latest SomangNet science projects include monitoring and follow-up observational studies of galaxies, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, symbiotic stars, solar system objects, neutrino/gravitational-wave sources, and exoplanets. KCI Citation Count: 5