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SOFIA Science CenterStratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

SOFIA Science Center

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
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The Warped Magnetic Field of Centaurus ASOFIA Offers New Way to Study Earth’s AtmosphereFirst Signs of Star Birth Triggered by Orion WindSOFIA Comet Studies Explore the Carbon Gradient in the Solar SystemFirst Detection of 13CH in the Interstellar MediumMagnetic ‘Highway’ Channels Material Out of Cigar GalaxyMagnetic Chaos Hidden Within the Whirlpool GalaxyOccultation Confirms Haze in Pluto’s AtmosphereCold Quasars and the Evolution of GalaxiesThe Optical Depth of [CII]: the Implications for Galaxies both Near and FarSOFIA Detects Water on the MoonMolecular Processing in the Disks of Massive StarsA Magnetic Hourglass Detection for a Low-Mass ProtostarMagnetized Filamentary Gas Flows in Serpens SouthThe Chemical Enrichment of the UniverseSOFIA Reveals the Complex Nature of a 'Simple' Star Formation TracerMagnetic Fields Force New Perspective on the Center of Our Milky Way GalaxySOFIA Reveals New View of Milky Way’s CenterHow The Swan Nebula Hatched

SOFIA is an 80/20 partnership of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), consisting of an extensively modified Boeing 747SP aircraft carrying a 2.7-meter (106 inch) reflecting telescope (with an effective diameter of 2.5 meters or 100 inches). The aircraft is based at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, Calif. The SOFIA Program Office is at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., which manages SOFIA's science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA; Columbia, Md.) and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI; University of Stuttgart).

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Science Results

Solar System
Pluto horizon showing atmosphere

Occultation Confirms Haze in Pluto’s Atmosphere

Interstellar Medium
SOFIA absorption spectrum of 13CH superposed over a composite infrared image of the Sgr B complex

First Detection of 13CH in the Interstellar Medium

Star Formation
Composite image of the Orion Nebula from SOFIA and the IRAM 30-meter radio telescope

First Signs of Star Birth Triggered by Orion Wind

Stars and Supernovae
Illustration of planetary nebula NGC 7027 and helium hydride molecules

First Astrophysical Detection of a Very Special Molecule

Galactic Center
Magnetic fields over a blue and gray image of a bright ring at the center of the Milky Way galaxy

The Role of the Magnetic Field in the Galactic Center

Extragalactic
Composite image of Centaurus A

The Warped Magnetic Field of Centaurus A

Publications
Astronomy and Astrophysics journal cover

SOFIA Refereed Papers

Observatory Update
Observatory Updates

Instrument Roadmap Report Available

Information for Researchers

M82

Information about the observatory, its scientific capabilities, proposal calls, and other matters of interest to researchers.

Information for the Public

SOFIA takes off into the sunset

Information for educators, resources for journalists, news updates, and image galleries.

NASA SOFIA Mission

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News, images, and other information for the general public.

German SOFIA Institute

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Information about the German SOFIA Institute (DSI).

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Rob Landis
NASA
Project Manager

Naseem Rangwala
NASA
Project Scientist

Margaret Meixner, USRA
Science Mission Operations Director