Near-Infrared Observing Conditions at the BOAO and the SOAO

Abstract

Korea Astronomy Observatory(KAO) has been developing the KAONICS, KAO Near-Infrared Camera System, which will be used for near-infrared observations in the ground-based telescopes of Korea. As a phase-A study for this work, we investigated observational environments at the Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory(SOAO) and the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory(BOAO) quantitatively. In the J, H, K, and L bands, atmospheric transmission was calculated mainly depending on the PWV(Precipitable Water Vapour), and limiting magnitudes were computed for the SOAO and the BOAO, respectively. We conclude that these observatories have similar observing capabilities and domestic observations are possible in near-infrared.

Keywords

• near-infrared
• limiting magnitude