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The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Learn about the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and its performance specifications, basic science results, and general investigator opportunities. Discover how this modified Boeing 747SP aircraft with a 2.5m telescope allows for imaging and spectroscopy from 0.3µm to 1.6mm, with a focus on the obscured infrared regions. This joint program between the US and Germany operates at an altitude above 99.8% of obscuring water vapor, providing a unique observatory for studying the infrared universe.

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The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

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  1. The Stratospheric Observatory forInfrared Astronomy (SOFIA) R. D. Gehrza and E. E. Becklinb aUniversity of Minnesota bUniversities Space Research Association This talk is at:http://www.sofia.usra.edu/Science/speakers/index.html 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  2. Outline • The SOFIA Facility and its Status • SOFIA Performance Specifications • SOFIA Basic Science Results • SOFIA Schedule and General Investigator (GI) Opportunities • Summary 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  3. SOFIA Overview • 2.5 m telescope in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft • Imaging and spectroscopy from 0.3 m to 1.6 mm • Emphasizes the obscured IR (30-300 m) • Operational Altitude • 39,000 to 45,000 feet (12 to 14 km) • Above > 99.8% of obscuring water vapor • Joint Program between the US (80%) and Germany (20%) • First Light images were obtained on May 26, 2010 • 20 year design lifetime –can respond to changing technology • Ops: Science at NASA-Ames; Flight at Dryden FRC (Palmdale- Site 9) • Deployments to the Southern Hemisphere and elsewhere • >120 8-10 hour flights per year 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  4. The SOFIA Observing Environment • Above 99.8% of the water vapor • Transmission at 14 km >80% from 1 to 800 µm • Emphasis is on the obscured IR regions from 30 to 300 µm SOFIA , 10m Precipitable Water Vapor Cerro Chajnantor, 700m Precipitable Water Vapor E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  5. The SOFIA Observatory E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  6. Telescope and Optical Layout E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  7. SOFIA Airborne on July 13, 2010 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  8. SOFIA Science Instruments SOFIA supports a unique, expandable suite of Science Instruments (SIs) • SIs cover the full IR range • with imagers and low to • high resolution • spectrographs • 4 SIs at Initial Operations; • 7 SIs at Full Operations. • SOFIA will take advantage • of improvements in • instrument technology. • Will support both Facility • Instruments and PI Class • Instruments 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  9. Photometric Sensitivity and Angular resolution • SOFIA is diffraction limited beyond 25 µm (θmin ~ λ/10 in arcseconds) and can produce images three times sharper than those made by Spitzer SOFIA is as sensitive as ISO 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  10. Results from the First Round of SOFIA Flights 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012 AAS/DPS Meeting, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, July 19, 2008 10 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  11. Early Science with FORCAST The DSI Telescope Assembly and Mission Operations Team in action during the First Light Flight The FORCAST Team 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  12. First Light on May 26, 2010 UT: We demonstrated diffraction limited imaging capability at 30 microns Red = 37.1 m, Green = 24.2 m, Blue = 5.4 m 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  13. SOFIA Image Quality During Early Science 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  14. SOFIA Early Science: Star Formation in Orion 12/19/2019 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  15. 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012 Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation, Boulder, CO, June 3, 2011

  16. SOFIA Early Science Images Red = 20 m Green = 12 m Blue = 11 m Wyoming Infrared Image from Herzog et al., 1980, Sky and Telescope, 59, 18 Red = 37.1 m, Green = 24.2 m 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  17. Early Science with GREAT installed on SOFIA 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  18. Early Science with GREAT (White CII, Green CO) 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  19. May 5, 2011: First Basic Science Flight Spectroscopic science results from the Basic Science Flights will be described in the next talk 19 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

  20. Science Results from SOFIA 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012 • The Basic Science flight series was concluded on November 9, 2011 • Thirty papers from the Early and Basic Science program have been published • Eight papers on FORCAST science have appeared in a special edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters (2012, Volume 749) • Twenty two papers on GREAT science have appeared in a special edition of Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters (2012, Volume 542)

  21. Science Schedule 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012 • Aircraft and telescope control improvements are underway. Test flights will resume in September, 2012 • Cycle 1 proposals were ingested on January 27, 2012 • 172 unique proposals were received (133 US; 39 German) • Proposal selections will be announced in July, 2012 • Cycle 1 observations will begin with GREAT observations in November, 2012 • Cycle 2 proposals will be called for in December, 2012 or January, 2013 will be due in April, 2013

  22. Future Instrumentation Development 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012 • A call for SOFIA second generations SIs was released on July 17, 2011 • Eleven proposals were ingested on October 7, 2011 • The selection of two proposals for upgrades to HAWC was announced on April 17, 2012. • A new detector will increase the number of pixels from 380 to 2400 • A wide-field polarimetric capability will be added • NASA plans to issue another SI AO in 2014

  23. Summary • The Program is making progress! • Early and Basic Science flights have been concluded • Performance expectations are being met • The aircraft is being upgraded • Cycle 1 observations will begin in 6 months • SOFIA will be one of the primary observational facilities for far-IR and submillimeter astronomy for many years Our Web site:http://www.sofia.usra.edu// This talk:http://www.sofia.usra.edu/Science/speakers/index.html 67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012

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