Events

 
Speaker: Terry Herter, Cornell University

Title: "SOFIA: Airborne Astronomy is Back"

Abstract: Airborne astronomy has played a key role in the development of 
infrared astronomy, leading to such missions as IRAS, ISO, Spitzer, 
and eventually JWST.  SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory For 
Infrared Astronomy, the successor to the Kuiper Airborne Observatory 
(KAO), begins science flights next year.  The speaker will discuss 
some of his past experiences with the KAO, the capabilities and time 
line of SOFIA, and FORCAST, a facility 5-38 micron camera for 
SOFIA.  FORCAST, built at Cornell, will be the first instrument to 
fly on SOFIA.  First light is scheduled for spring/summer of next year.