News
Seminar at PAG - Signal Source Seeking and Strength Prediction for Space Exploration.
Professor Hyo-Sang Shin from the Autonomous and intelligent System Lab, KAIST visited PAG and presented his talk here at IBS regarding source seeking intelligence. In his talk, he presented abilities of various statistical-numerical methods for searching objects by robots. The objects were equivalent to a radio wave emitter. This project has been carried out in collaboration with NASA. The purpose of this project was to deploy robot in an unknown challenging environment such as Mars.
February 25, 2025
Seminar at PAG - Unveiling the central engine of mass-accreting black holes based on time-domain studies
Abstract: Mass-accreting massive black holes are presumably the most energetic and dynamic sources in the universe, not to mention that they also play an important role in galaxy evolution. However, our understanding of the central engine of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is mainly limited due to the lack of proper spatial resolution. In this talk I will discuss how we can unveil the structure of black hole engine via time-domain studies.
February 18, 2025
Seminar at PAG - Planetary magnetospheric dynamics using the global simulation
Dr. Kyung-Sun Park from Chung-buk Univ., S. Korea visited PAG and introduced her ongoing research. Dr. Kyung-Sun Park talked about the planetary magnetospheric dynamics of different planets like Mars, Jupiter and Earth from her simulation results produced in a three dimensional magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) model.
February 4, 2025
ESA delegation visit's to the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Headquarters, Daejeon, South Korea
ESA delegation holds meeting with PAG members at IBS on 14th of January 2025. Research activities at planetary group atmospheres (PAG) were shared at the meeting. Discussions were also made regarding current bottom-up research collaboration between South Korea and ESA and future perspective.
January 14, 2025
CLOVESat-1 kick-off meeting
We are excited to announce that IBS signed a contract with a European CubeSat company for the CLOVESat-1 flight system. The kick-off date is January 10, 2025. PAG is developing a camera payload to integrate into the CLOVESat-1 flight system in 2025. PAG plans a series of LEO CubeSats to make long-term Venus monitoring over 15 years, and its first CubeSat, CLOVESat-1, will be launched in the middle of 2026.
January 9, 2025
2025 winter internship
PAG announced the beginning of the 2025 winter internship on 6th January with five undergraduate students. We welcome our five interns: Dongho You, Ilsik Choi, Jongha Shin, Taeho Kim, and Yumin Kim. The internship is for two months and can be extended to 1 year.
January 6, 2025
Seminar at PAG - Long-term temperature and thermal tides variation in the upper cloud layer of Venus
Dr. Toru Kouyama (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST, Japan) visited PAG and introduced his ongoing research. Dr. Kouyama gave a seminar on two different topics. First, Dr. Kouyama discussed “Long-term temperature and thermal tides variation in the upper cloud layer of Venus, observed by Akatsuki/LIR”. In addition, Dr. Kouyama introduced the second topic, “Introducing Optical Navigation Cameras onboard Hayabusa2, and its current status in Hayabusa 2’s extended mission phase”.
December 19, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Mapping stellar surfaces
Dr. Semyeong Oh, a senior researcher at PAG, reviewed a paper entitled “Mapping stellar surfaces. I Degeneracies in the rotational light-curve problem” (Luger et al. 2021, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021AJ....162..123L/abstract).
December 17, 2024
Seminar at PAG - The local time dependence of phase curves on Venus clouds
Dr. Rommy Aliste Castillo, a postdoc researcher at PAG, discussed her ongoing research to characterize the local time variation of Venusian cloud morphology and its implications.
December 10, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Did Venus have plate tectonics?
Dr. Paul Byrne (Washington University in St. Louis) visited PAG and introduced his ongoing research. During his presentation, Dr. Byrne discussed possible evidence for the presence of some form of tectonic activity on Venus.
December 2, 2024
Public outreach
IBS/PAG and Daejeon City Observatory (대전시민천문대) held a public lecture on November 30, 2024, in the observatory’s seminar room.
November 30, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Stationary waves on Venus
Dr. Jose E. Silva, a postdoc researcher at PAG, discussed his ongoing research on stationary features found at different latitudes, local times, and using different wavelengths than previously reported on the dayside of Venus.
November 26, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Climatology of SO2 and UV absorber at Venus' cloud top from SPICAV-UV nadir dataset
Dr. Ashimananda Modak, a postdoc researcher at PAG, discussed his current progress in studying the climatology of SO2 and UV absober at Venus’ cloud top atmosphere.
November 5, 2024
Seminar at PAG - On Interplanetary Origin of the Unknown UV Absorber in the Atmosphere of Venus
Dr. Evgenij Zubko, a senior researcher at PAG, discussed his current progress in studying a possible interplanetary origin of the unknown UV absorber in the atmosphere of Venus.
October 2, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Presentation of PAG's Internship Students
Intern Seongbong Han (Yonsei University) gave a seminar titled “Mie scattering code development”. Additionally, intern Hyeon Ju Kang (Yonsei University) talked about her current progress in a seminar titled “Characterization of small-scale UV contrast at Venus’ cloud top level”. We congratulate our intern students who conducted successful research this summer.
August 27, 2024
Seminar at PAG - The path-tracing simulation of the Light-Field Camera
Dr. Minbae Kim, a research technician at PAG, gave a seminar titled “The path-tracing simulation of the Light-Field Camera for Lunar surface exploration”.
August 20, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Current progress in studying light-scattering properties of aerosols in the atmosphere of Venus
Dr. Evgenij Zubko, a senior researcher at PAG, discussed his current progress in studying the light-scattering properties of aerosols in the Venusian atmosphere.
August 6, 2024
(Korean Media) Round Table at the Europe-Korea Conference on Science and Technology (EKC2024)
The Europe-Korea Conference on Science and Technology (EKC2024) was held at Coventry, UK, on July 30 - August 02. One of the sessions was a panel discussion about “Fostering Global Scientific Partnerships in Basic Science - The European-Korean Connection”. Korean media news: Money Today
July 30, 2024
PSSE2024 - Korean Media Interview
We held a media interview on the last day of PSSE2024, 25th July in Daejeon with about 15 reporters in Korea. 6 invited speakers joined the interview and shared insight and personal research interest that can be done with Korean community. An example of Korean media news: Yonhap news
July 25, 2024
COSPAR 2024, 45th Scientific Assembly
The Planetary Atmospheres Group (PAG) from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) participated as a sponsor in the last Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Assembly carried out in BEXCO, Busan, South Korea. Three members of our group, Dr. Yeon Joo Lee, Dr. Evgenij Zubko, and Dr. Jose Silva, discussed their ongoing research during the scientific sessions that included Venus science, planetary atmospheres, and small bodies in the Solar System. Also, three members of our group, Dr.
July 19, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Modeling and Observation of Gravity Waves in Planetary Atmospheres
Prof. Erdal Yigit (George Mason University) visited PAG and introduced his ongoing research. Prof. Yigit discussed the role of gravity waves in the dynamics of planetary atmospheres, their thermal effects, as well as the implications of dust storms and gravity waves for the atmospheric escape.
July 11, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Variability and Planetary-Scale Waves on Venus
Dr. Semyeong Oh, a senior researcher at PAG, gave a seminar titled “Variability and Planetary-Scale Waves on Venus”.
July 2, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Extraterrestrial Volcanism
Prof. Hyunwoo Lee (Seoul National University) visited PAG and introduced his ongoing research. Title: Extraterrestrial Volcanism, Volcanism in the Inner Solar System Prof. Lee analyzed evidence of features in the surface morphology of Venus, Mars, Mercury, the Moon and some icy satellites of the outer solar system, which can be interpreted as a possible indication of volcanic activity similar to that found in different places on Earth.
June 19, 2024
2024 4th Venus Data Workshop [online]
PAG plans its fourth Data Workshop. This workshop will explain images at 10 µm of Venus (see the sample image above), which provides atmospheric temperature information, ~65 km above the surface. The Longwave Infrared Camera (LIR) acquired the sample image from the Akatsuki Venus orbiter, operating since 2015. The global-scale atmospheric wave is clearly visible on the Venus disk’s left half (note that Venus’s radius is 6,052 km). The source of the wave is the high mountains on the surface (1-5 km elevation), implying the important surface influence on the planet’s atmosphere.
May 1, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Introduction of BOAO/SPECTR and Its Transmission Spectroscopy Results of Two Hot Jupiters, HD 189733b and Qatar-8b
A PhD candidate Yeonho Choi (KASI, UST) visited PAG and introduced his ongoing research. Title: Introduction of BOAO/SPECTR and its transmission spectroscopy results of two hot Jupiters, HD 189733b and Qatar-8b
April 9, 2024
Welcome New Member at PAG
A new member joined PAG on 1st April, Dr. Rommy L. S. E. Aliste Castillo. Welcome, Dr. Aliste Castillo! As of April 2024, PAG has 10 members: six researchers, an invited researcher, and three internship students.
April 1, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Experimental and Observational Astrophysics, Perspectives in Radio Astronomy
Prof. Junhan Kim (KAIST, Physics Department) visited PAG and introduced his research. Title: Experimental and Observational Astrophysics: Perspectives in Radio Astronomy
March 27, 2024
Paper Review at PAG - Three-dimensional Turbulence-resolving Modeling of the Venusian Cloud Layer and Induced Gravity Waves
PAG’s internship student, Hyeonju Kang, reviewed a paper by Lefevre et al. 2017, entitled “Three-dimensional turbulence-resolving modeling of the Venusian cloud layer and induced gravity waves” (https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JE005146).
March 27, 2024
Paper Review at PAG - Atmospheres of Rocky Exoplanets
Dr. Semyeong Oh, a senior researcher at PAG, reviewed multiple papers, including “Atmospheres of Rocky Exoplanets” (Wordsworth and Kreidberg, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-astro-052920-125632)
March 12, 2024
MoU with the BK21 Four Institute of Earth, Atmosphere, Astronomy at Yonsei Univserity
PRC for Climate and Earth Science made MoU with the BK21 Four Institute of Earth, Atmosphere, Astronomy at Yonsei Univserity. The MoU aims at establishing research collaboration, broadening international research network, and providing education opportunities. The MoU is valid for the coming 4 years, and extendable.
March 8, 2024
Paper Review at PAG - Thermal Tides in the Upper Cloud Layer of Venus as Deduced from the Emission Angle Dependence of the Brightness Temperature by Akatsuki/LIR
PAG’s internship student, Sae Eun Cheon, reviewed a paper by Akiba et al. 2021, entitled “Thermal tides in the upper cloud layer of Venus as deduced from the emission angle dependence of the brightness temperature by Akatsuki/LIR” (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006808).
February 27, 2024
Seminar at PAG - On Depolarization of Light Scattered by Gaseous Molecules
Dr. Evgenij Zubko, a senior researcher of PAG, gave a seminar, entitled “On depolarization of light scattered by gaseous molecules”.
February 13, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Venus Revealed, the Collaborative Effort of Amateur Astronomers in Atmospheric Studies
Dr. Javier Peralta visited PAG and introduced his research. Dr. Peralta is working at the department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics in the Universidad de Sevilla, Spain. Title: Venus Revealed: The Collaborative Effort of Amateur Astronomers in Atmospheric Studies
February 2, 2024
Completion of the 2023 International Venus Observation Campaign
Planetary Atmospheres Group (PAG) thanks our international collaborators for joining the 2023 campaign. BepiColombo’s PHEBUS took the faraway Venus data, and Akatsuki’s UVI continuously monitored Venus. In total ten instruments from the ground joined the campaign: Bohyeonsan’s 4kCCD, BOES and SPECTR spectrometers, Seoul National University’s CCD imager (SAO), Calar Alto observatory 1.23 DLR-CCD imager, STELLA imager, Chungbuk National University observatory’s CCD imager, Nayoro observatory’s polarization imager, Ussuriysk Astrophysical Observatory’s polarization imager.
February 1, 2024
Seminar at PAG - CLOVE Project
Dr. Yeon Joo Lee, CI of PAG, introduced the Project of PAG, “Chasing the Long-term Variability of Our Nearest Neighbor Planet Venus (CLOVE)” Title: CLOVE project
January 30, 2024
Seminar at PAG - Small Satellite Technology and Operation for Remote Sensing
Prof. Zizung Yoon (Korea Aerospace Univ., previously TU Berlin) visited PAG and introduced the up-to-date news about small satellite technology. Title: Small satellite technology and operation for remote sensing
January 23, 2024
Paper Review at PAG - Cloud and Haze of Venus
PAG’s intership student, Siwoo Jung, reviewed a paper, entitled “Cloud and Haze of Venus” (Titve et al. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-018-0552-z) over two weeks.
January 9, 2024
[Mini-workshop] 13-14 Dec 2023, Planetary Atmospheric Studies Using Theory and Remote Observations
Planetary atmospheric studies using theory and remote observations Mini-workshop at IBS/PAG 13-14 Dec 2023 (Hybrid workshop)
December 13, 2023
2023-2 Online Venus Data Workshop
We invite you to our third online data workshop. Our workshop introduces how to access publicly available Venus data. The goals of our data workshops are (1) lowering a barrier for researchers to access recent Venus data and (2) providing chances for students to join internship opportunities in our group, PAG/IBS, Daejeon. Our data workshops are held regularly, 2 times per year (May and November). The materials can be shared with the participants after the workshop upon request.
November 10, 2023
Invitation to the 2023 International Venus Observation Campaign
For more details, visit the IBS news. Planetary Atmospheres Group (PAG) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is organizing a 2023 Venus atmosphere observation campaign. The PAG-IBS team, led by Dr. LEE Yeon Joo, also invites international telescope teams to collaborate for Venus disk data acquisition from September to October 2023. This campaign will offer a unique opportunity to study the atmosphere of the Earth’s twin simultaneously from three different locations in the solar system.
July 6, 2023
PAG's outreach activity at the Daejeon Observatory in Korean (2/2)
2023 대전시민천문대-IBS/PAG 협력, 두번째 - 한국어 금성 특강 제목: 관측으로 추적하는 금성의 변화 (IBS 이연주) 일시: 2023년 6월 9일(금) 20시 장소: 대면 / 대전시민천문대 세미나실 (40명)
June 9, 2023
PAG's outreach activity at the Daejeon Observatory
PAG has collaborated with the staff at the Daejeon Observatory (대전시민천문대) for public outreach activities, and its main telescope of the observatory aims at Venus! Our second outreach event took place on May 17th at the Daejeon Civil Observatory. Dr. Jose Silva was our enthusiastic guide for the evening and presented celestial objects, including Venus. His presentation was delivered in English, attracting foreign visitors from IBS and expanding the audience base in Daejeon.
May 17, 2023
PAG's outreach activity at the Daejeon Observatory in Korean (1/2)
PAG has collaborated with the staff at the Daejeon Civil Observatory for public outreach activities. On 30th April, we hosted our first outreach activity at the Daejeon Civil Observatory, with Dr. Yeon Joo Lee as the keynote speaker. Her presentation was in Korean and about clouds on Earth and Venus. Thanks to all participants and the team at the observatory. The observatory generously provided quiz awards for the young attendees.
April 30, 2023