The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (sofia)
Abstract
The SOFIA is a 2.5-meter telescope built into a Boeing 747 airplane. It will fly at altitudes between 12-14 km above 99.8% of the atmospheric water vapor, making possible observations throughout the far-infrared and submillimeter spectral region. Nine focal plane instruments providing imaging and low-to-high resolution spectroscopy will be available. It will be operated as a guest observer facility. The first call for ``Early Basic Science'' will be issued in December 2009, the call for Demonstration Science will be issued early in 2010, and the call for Cycle 0 Guest Investigator programs is planned for January 2011.
- Publication:
-
Exoplanets and Disks: Their Formation and Diversity
- Pub Date:
- August 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3215889
- Bibcode:
- 2009AIPC.1158..341J
- Keywords:
-
- 95.55.Qf;
- 95.55.Cs;
- 96.15.H-;
- 95.45.+i;
- Photometric polarimetric and spectroscopic instrumentation;
- Ground-based ultraviolet optical and infrared telescopes;
- Atmospheres;
- Observatories and site testing