Mid-infrared image of the W3 star forming region from SOFIA/FORCAST, inset on a near-infrared image from Spitzer. Arrow indicates a bubble cleared in the nebula by wind and radiation from the most massive newborn star in the cluster. (SOFIA image, inset: RGB = 37, 20, 7.7 µm; NASA / DLR / USRA / DSI / FORCAST team / F. Salgado, A. Tielens, J. De Buizer). Read more.
From left, Terry Herter, principal investigator of FORCAST and SOFIA staff scientist James De Buizer discuss an infrared image with Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Theresa Paulsen and Marita Beard. (NASA/SOFIA/N. Veronico)
Educators Selected to Fly on SOFIA
Twenty-six educators from the United States have been selected for research flights aboard SOFIA, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. As participants in the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program, the educators will partner with professional astronomers using SOFIA for scientific observations in 2012 and 2013. Read more.
SOFIA Cycle 1 Observing Time
The SOFIA Cycle 1 Call for Proposals is now closed. Observations are scheduled to start in August 2012. More information.
SOFIA: Exploring the Hidden Universe Documentary short subject prepared by SOFIA Outreach and NASA-Ames Public Affairs for the "100 Hours of Astronomy" event during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. View the movie.
The Science Vision for SOFIA and The Case for SOFIA The Science Vision summarizes the unique capabilities that SOFIA will offer to the astronomical community, and describes a number of exciting science programs that are representative of SOFIA's potential contributions. View the Vision document (22 MB PDF file). /The Case for SOFIA/ offers a high level introduction to some of the compelling science themes that the observatory will explore. View the Case document (PDF file).
