sofia--the next generation airborne observatory
DESCRIPTION
SOFIA--The Next Generation Airborne Observatory. • 2.5-meter (100-inch) telescope in a Boeing 747SP • Based at NASA-Dryden’s Aircraft Ops Facility in Palmdale, with Science Center at NASA-Ames • 120+ 8-hour research flights per year; 20 year lifetime - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SOFIA--The Next GenerationSOFIA--The Next GenerationAirborne ObservatoryAirborne Observatory
• 2.5-meter (100-inch) telescope in a Boeing 747SP
• Based at NASA-Dryden’sAircraft Ops Facility in
Palmdale, with Science Center at NASA-Ames
• 120+ 8-hour research flights per year; 20 year lifetime• 20% share with the German space agency DLR • The world’s largest portable telescope!• Useful for both visible and infrared research• 1+ month per year in southern hemisphere• First test flights in 2007, first science flights in 2010
SOFIA — The ObservatorySOFIA — The Observatory open cavity
(door not shown)
TELESCOPE
pressure bulkhead
scientific instrument (1 of 7)
Scientist work stations, telescope and instrument control, etc.
Educator work stations
Ready for First LightReady for First Light
““Line Ops” (ground tests)Line Ops” (ground tests)
First 100%-Open Door Test First 100%-Open Door Test FlightFlight
December 2009December 2009
““First Light” flight plan, May First Light” flight plan, May 25/26, 201025/26, 2010
7
LLeegg
OBJECTOBJECT PDTPDTstarstartt
DURDURMinMin
11 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 09:509:500
1414
22 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 10:010:055
99
33 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 10:110:155
77
44 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 10:210:244
1010
55 ALPHA SCOALPHA SCO 10:310:344
2727
66 TW OPHTW OPH 11:011:011
2222
77 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 11:211:255
33
88 RZ UMARZ UMA 11:211:299
2525
99 DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 11:511:566
33
1100
EPSILON EPSILON SCOSCO
11:511:588
3030
1111
RHO UMARHO UMA 12:312:311
2525
1122
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 12:512:588
1111
1133
M 82M 82 01:101:111
3636
1144
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 01:401:488
55
1155
ETA SGRETA SGR 01:501:544
5353
1166
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 02:402:488
55
1177
LAMBDA DRALAMBDA DRA 02:502:544
2525
1188
V CVNV CVN 03:203:200
2525
1199
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 03:403:466
1212
2200
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 04:004:000
44
2211
JUPITERJUPITER 04:004:066
2727
2222
DEAD LEGDEAD LEG 04:304:355
4040
5/17/10 SOFIA Observatory Flight Readiness Review
Southern hemisphere deployment Southern hemisphere deployment ----
flight plan to study the flight plan to study the Galactic CenterGalactic Center
Dwarf planet Pluto (V ~ 14) occulted a Dwarf planet Pluto (V ~ 14) occulted a star (V ~ 14.4).star (V ~ 14.4).
SOFIA met the shadow of Pluto in mid-SOFIA met the shadow of Pluto in mid-Pacific. Pacific. =>=>
HIPO (Lowell Obs.) and FDC (DSI) HIPO (Lowell Obs.) and FDC (DSI) instrumentsinstrumentsobserved the occultation simultaneously.observed the occultation simultaneously.
SOFIA observations of a stellaroccultation by Pluto on July 23, 2011
Image sequence from the Fast Diagnostic Camera (FDC) FDC
Pluto (circled) is 13 arcsec from the star 200 minutes
before the occultation
Just before occultation: Pluto and star merged, combined light
During occultation: Pluto and star merged, only Pluto light seen
After occultation: Pluto and star merged, combined light
Further information:Further information:
SOFIA Science Center home pageSOFIA Science Center home page• http://www.sofia.usra.edu