Marking a historic milestone, a lunar crater has been named
after a Korean scientist, after it was discovered that the crater
was unnamed
SEOUL,
South Korea, Sept. 4,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The surface of the Moon—Earth's
natural satellite, is dotted with numerous craters formed over
billions of years of impacts from space debris, such as rocks,
comets, and asteroids. Marking a historic moment for Korean
astronomical community, one such lunar crater, situated on the far
side of the Moon, has been recently named after the 19th
century Joseon-era astronomer and mathematician, Nam Byeong-Cheol.
The naming was formalized by the International Astronomical Union
(IAU) on the recommendation of the Danuri Magnetometer Payload
research team from Kyung Hee University on 14 August 2024. This marks the first time a
Korean scientist has been honored with a lunar crater naming.
With a diameter of 132 kilometers, the Nam Byeong-Cheol crater
is the largest lunar crater since 1980. The naming of such large
craters has become rare since the Apollo era. As of now, only 1,649
out of 9,137 recognized lunar craters have been named by the IAU.
This particular crater was one of the several studied by the Kyung
Hee University research team in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Cruz, as part of
their investigation into the magnetic field changes on the Moon's
surface caused by impact energy. The research was conducted using
Danuri, South Korea's first lunar
orbiter, designed for low-orbit observations. The Kyung Hee
University has strong achievements in space science and was also
responsible for developing the weather payload aboard Danuri.
Upon discovering that the crater was unnamed at the time of
their research, the Kyung Hee University team, together with
Professor Ian Garrick-Bethell from
the University of California, applied
to IAU to name the crater. The name 'Nam Byeong-Cheol' was chosen
following consultations with the Centre for Historical Astronomy at
the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. "We are proud
that a part of Korean history, through Nam Byeong-Cheol's name, has
been etched onto Moon's surface," remarks Professor
Jin Ho, leader of the Danuri
Magnetometer Payload team.
According to IAU guidelines, a crater must hold scientific
significance to be named. Additionally, evidence must be provided
that the name belongs to a scientist. The Nam Byeong-Cheol crater
is known for its anomalous magnetic field, which differs between
the interior and exterior of the crater. These unique magnetic
properties can provide valuable insights into the Moon's formation
and evolution. The team highlighted the historical achievements of
Nam Byeong-Cheol and the significance of the crater in the study of
the magnetic field changes on the Moon's surface due to impact
energy in the Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
published by the Korean Astronomical Society.
"We anticipate that further observations of the Nam
Byeong-Cheol crater during the Danuri orbiter's mission will
contribute to new research on the geologic history of the
Moon," says a hopeful Prof. Jin
Ho.
This milestone heralds a new era in Korean astronomy,
solidifying Korea's position in global research.
About Kyung Hee
University
https://www.khu.ac.kr/eng/user/main/view.do
Contact
Regarding Danuri Magnetometer:
Prof. Jin Ho, Department of Space
Exploration, Kyung Hee University
Phone: +82-31-201-3865
Regarding Nam Byeong-Cheol
Crater: Park Hyun-Hoo, Danuri
Magnetometer Payload Research Team, Kyung Hee University
Phone: +82-31-201-2480
Press Inquiries: Jung Min-Jae,
Communication Center, Kyung Hee University
Phone: +82-2-961-0024~5 / +82-10-6626-6694
382636@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Kyung Hee University