NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, will soon be studying Neptune’s giant moon, Triton, and following-up on Hubble’s recent sighting of water plumes on Jupiter’s moon Europa. According to recently completed plans for the 2017 observing campaign, about half of the research time for SOFIA will run the gamut from studies of planets to observations of comets and asteroids orbiting other stars and supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies beyond our own. The other half will focus on star formation and the interstellar medium, the areas of dust and gas in the universe, including a vast turbulent region encircling the centre of our Milky Way galaxy.A total of 535 observing hours have been awarded for SOFIA’s Science Cycle 5, which runs from February 2017 through January 2018, and the selected programs span the entire field of astronomy from planetary science to extragalactic investigations. Triton, only one-third of a light-year from Earth, will be one of the closest objects studied by NASA’s flying observatory while the farthest observation will study a supermassive black hole approximately 12 billion light-years away.
Triton, only one-third of a light-year from Earth
QuoteTriton, only one-third of a light-year from EarthIt's actually one light-hour away from Earth, or 1/3% of a light-year. How could such an error slip into their publication?
Quote from: rocx on 11/17/2016 07:45 amQuoteTriton, only one-third of a light-year from EarthIt's actually one light-hour away from Earth, or 1/3% of a light-year. How could such an error slip into their publication?Even less: It's about 0,045% of a light year (29-30 AU). Astonishing they did not catch that.
WASHINGTON — A NASA airborne observatory that enjoys unusual protection from regular reviews resumed science flights recently after an extended maintenance period.
And through a freedom-of-information request, Nature obtained a copy of a scathing review of SOFIA made last year by an independent panel. The report is heavily redacted, but confirms that the observatory falls far short of its goals, including one to produce more than 150 scientific papers per year.“Certainly, SOFIA has not lived up to its potential,” says Paul Hertz, head of NASA’s astrophysics division in Washington, DC.That's not even counting the coronavirus pandemic that is upending lives and research around the globe. Because of the coronavirus threat, SOFIA has been grounded since the night of 12-13 March.
The main base of operations for Sofia is in New Zealand, but the maintenance is done in Germany. So it involves a long trip, lots of coordination and planning, etc.
Just asking in passing... Did SOFIA pushed too far (2.7 m telescope on a 747SP) compared to old KAO ?
As of June 2020, there were 7 Boeing 747SPs still in active service with 18 more stored and 1 preserved. The remaining 19 were either scrapped, otherwise destroyed or abandoned.[11][verification needed] In 2016, the last 747SP in commercial service was withdrawn from service after 40 years by Iran Air.[13][14][15] As of 2017, the majority of the seven aircraft still in service are used for governmental or VIP transport. 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada (used as an engine testbed)[16] 1 Government of Oman 2 Las Vegas Sands 1 NASA/DLR (used as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA)
Incidentally, why did they picked a 747SP - of all 747 variants ? As far as 747s production runs went, it was a pretty marginal variant, no ? Wikipedia tells me, only 45 were build. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747SPQuoteAs of June 2020, there were 7 Boeing 747SPs still in active service with 18 more stored and 1 preserved. The remaining 19 were either scrapped, otherwise destroyed or abandoned.[11][verification needed] In 2016, the last 747SP in commercial service was withdrawn from service after 40 years by Iran Air.[13][14][15] As of 2017, the majority of the seven aircraft still in service are used for governmental or VIP transport. 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada (used as an engine testbed)[16] 1 Government of Oman 2 Las Vegas Sands 1 NASA/DLR (used as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA)And from the 747-200 generation, that is, 40 years old tech. Why not a 747-400 ? or, at worse, a 747-200, as they did for AF1 / E-4B ? On the positive side, it seems to have some terrific performance, notably range. A truncated and lightened -200 fuselage with the same wings and engines, ceiling, too, must have been pretty impressive. Maybe that's the reason, why.