Past Events in 2022

Following the cancellation of the AAS Winter meeting, we encourage the community to connect  - virtually - to our program of SOFIA virtual events, which includes informational webinars, science talks and programmatic presentations. All events are free, no registration needed.

AAS 239 Press Conferences

Date: Monday, January 10, 2022

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM (Mountain Time)

Recent extra-galactic SOFIA results will be included in this press conference hosted by AAS.

A Map of the Molecular Ring and Arms of a Spiral Galaxy
Jessica Sutter (Universities Space Research Association)

Press Release
AAS Briefing Video

For more information follow using this link

The calls for Cycle 10 observations on SOFIA are now open, with a deadline of January 28, 2022. A total of approximatively 650 hours of observations will be offered during Cycle 10, with funding available to eligible proposers (~$7.5M total).

The US-German Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), is currently in its 9th observing cycle, and continues to provide to the international community a unique access to the mid- and far-infrared sky. During this Town Hall, the SOFIA Director, Margaret Meixner, and the SOFIA team will report on the status of the observatory, the ongoing Cycle 9 observations including Legacy Programs, the open Cycle 10 Call for Proposals, upcoming community events, as well as the timeline for instrument upgrades and developments.

Join on Webex using this link

Lars Bonne will present his recent PhD thesis 'The formation and dispersal of dense gas in star forming regions" (University of Bordeaux), which received the USRA prize for best SOFIA thesis. He will describe kinematic studies towards both low- and high-mass star forming regions that cover a wide density range, in particular detailing the Musca and DR21 clouds. The dynamics in these regions with different star formation activities show signatures that point to dense filament formation by the same mechanism i.e.

Enrique Lopez Rodriguez (Stanford) will present his paper "The Magnetic Field Across The Molecular Warped Disk of Centaurus A"  which received the USRA prize for best SOFIA paper.

Join on Webex using this link

Watch Best SOFIA Paper: Enrique Lopez Rodriguez, Stanford, video using this link

Understanding the chemical pathways to the formation of molecules in various astrophysical settings is at the heart of astrochemical research. In particular, the icy mantles formed on interstellar dust grains and their processing by galactic cosmic rays or high-energy ultraviolet photons are thought to be the origin of many observed molecules, including those that are prebiotic. As interstellar regions evolve into stellar and planetary systems, these molecules may be seeded to planets and moons and contribute to important (geo)chemical processes and the possible emergence of life.

For information on how to participate in the teletalks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

Understanding mid and far-IR data: This free virtual event is designed for anyone who uses or considers using astronomic mid and far-IR data in their scientific research. Through short lectures based on existing data and scientific results, attendees will be introduced to many of the scientific cases leveraged by such data. Detailed presentations on data analysis considerations specific to this wavelength range, such as atmospheric transmission correction, will be included.

For information on how to participate in the teletalks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

Everywhere we look, the Universe is threaded with magnetism. These magnetic fields are surprisingly organised and coherent, and are vital to many of the fundamental processes that astronomers take for granted. However, the mechanisms that create and then sustain magnetism in the Universe are not understood, in no small part because magnetic fields are usually not directly observable.

For information on how to participate in the teletalks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

The far infrared contains critical information about galactic ecosystem; The circle of life of stars and planets. How does interstellar material cycle between atomic and molecular clouds, and how does its chemical composition (and particularly the abundance of hydride molecules) reflect the environment in which it is found? What is the role of feedback (from young and old stars) on the interstellar medium (ISM)? What is the role of magnetic fields in the evolution of the ISM and star formation?

This webinar will describe through concrete examples how to evaluate the quality of FORCAST imaging products, how to identify typical artifacts which may affect images and what are possible solutions to perform the most accurate data analysis.

View the webinar recording here.

The [CII] 158 μm line is a frequent target for studies of the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies near and far. Often the brightest observed emission line from star forming galaxies and an important cooling channel in photodissociation regions (PDRs), proposals have been made to use [CII] emission to trace a variety of phenomena in galaxies, including star formation, shocks, and CO-dark molecular gas. In order to better understand how the local environment affects the strength of this emission, we present a [CII] map of the galaxy NGC 7331 obtained with FIFI-LS on-board SOFIA.

For information on how to participate in the Tele-Talks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

For information on how to participate in the teletalks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

For information on how to participate in the teletalks, please check the SOFIA Tele-Talk page.

This webinar will introduce the common framework for the SOFIA processing and calibration pipeline, including visualization features. 

Watch video here.