The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA): project overview and a few science highlights

　　Hans Zinnecker（SOFIA Science Center at NASA-Ames, USAand DSI at Univ. of Stuttgart, Germany）

　　Time & place: Friday, 3:00pm, March 27th, lecture Hall, 3rd floor

　　ABSTRACT

　　SOFIA, short for Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy,is a Boeing 747SP aircraft with a 2.7m telescope flying as high as 45000 ft in the stratosphere above 99 percent of the precipitable　water vapor. It has started astronomical observations in Dec 2010 and has reached full operational capability in April 2014. SOFIA　is a joint project between NASA (80%) and the German DLR (20%).　By now, SOFIA has delivered a number of　exciting results and discoveries, both in mid-infrared imaging　(5-40 micron) and in far-infrared (THz) heterodyne　high-resolution spectroscopy.　especially in the fields of star formation and astrochemistry.　The work-horse instruments used to obtain these first results were

　　FORCAST and GREAT.

　　In July 2013 SOFIA was deployed to New Zealand for a total of　9 flights to observe major targets in the Southern hemisphere　at THz frequencies, including the Galactic Center region as well as　the Magellanic Clouds. The results are now being published.　Recently, SOFIA underwent a full overhaul　at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, and is now back observing　successfully, with the spectrometers　EXES (5-28 microns) and FIFI-LS (50-200 microns).　The observation of a Pluto occultation by a bright star　on June 29, 2015 in the southern hemisphere (to complement　　End of June is also the deadline for the next call for proposals　(Cycle 4). Anyone can apply, as SOFIA is an Observatory open　internationally.　In my talk, I will present a project overview of SOFIA and a few　recent observational science results (highlights). Time permitting,　I will also outline SOFIA's future potential in infrared astronomy.　After Herschel ran out of cryogens in spring 2013, SOFIA is the　premier FIR-facility for many years to come.