Recent Science Results from The Stratospheric Observatory...
Transcript of Recent Science Results from The Stratospheric Observatory...
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1 R. D. Gehrz
Recent Science Results from The Stratospheric
Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
R. D. Gehrz
Chair, SOFIA Users Group (SUG)
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota
This talk is at: http://www.sofia.usra.edu/Science/speakers/index.html
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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2 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Outline
• SOFIA’s Heritage and Context
• Constructing the SOFIA Observatory and its Current Status
• SOFIA Science Instrumentation/Performance Specifications
• SOFIA Science Results
• SOFIA Schedule and General Investigator (GI) Opportunities
• Summary
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3 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
The History of Flying Infrared Observatories
NASA Lear JetObservatory
1967
1977NASA Kuiper Airborne
Observatory (KAO)
1999
2002
20062006
1967
NASA Infrared AstronomicalSatellite (IRAS)
1995 2003
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope
NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
2009
1983
Science
objectives
1974
ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)
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4 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA and its Companions in Space
SOFIA
HERSCHEL
JWST
2018
2009
2010
2003
(Spitzer)
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5 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA Overview
• 2.5 m telescope in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft
– Imaging and spectroscopy from 0.3 m to 1.6 mm
– Emphasizes the obscured IR (30-300 m)
• Operational Altitude
– 39,000 to 45,000 feet (12 to 14 km)
– Above > 99.8% of obscuring water vapor
• Joint Program between the US (80%) and Germany (20%)
– First Light images were obtained on May 26, 2010
– 20 year design lifetime –can respond to changing technology
– Ops: Science at NASA-Ames; Flight at Dryden FRC (Palmdale- Site 9)
– Deployments to the Southern Hemisphere and elsewhere
– >120 8-10 hour flights per year
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6 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
• Above 99.8% of the water
vapor
• Transmission at 14 km >80%
from 1 to 800 µm
• Emphasis is on the obscured
IR regions from 30 to 300 µm
The SOFIA Observing Environment
SOFIA , 10m Precipitable Water Vapor
Cerro Chajnantor, 700m Precipitable Water Vapor
E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17
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7 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Location of future cavity opening
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8 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
New pressure
bulkhead
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9 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
The SOFIA Observatory
E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17 Door
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10 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA: Selecting the Aircraft
• Fuselage diameter (length not an
issue)
• Payload and loiter time at FL >410
• Cost ($13M in 1995 dollars)
The winner: Boeing 747-SP
Retrofitted with P&W JT9D-7J
engines to provide operational
margin
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11 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA: Modeling the Aircraft
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12 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
FEM Predictions for Unmodified Aircraft
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13 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Sample Longitudinal Strain - Positive Vertical Acceleration
FEM Predicted Longitudinal Strain and Flight Test Calibrated Strain vs. Water Line
FEM Station 1990 (LHS)
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Microstrain, uin/in
Wa
ter
Lin
e, in
.
FEM
Flight Test Stringers
Flight Test Skins
FEM Validation: Pre-Modification Flight Test Data
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14 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Modified Baseline Finite Element Model
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15 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
New 21.3 foot diameter Pressure Bulkhead
FEMBulkhead on Delivery
Bulkhead simulator used in Germany
for Telescope Assembly buildup
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16 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Total Force is on the 21.3 Foot
Diameter Pressure Bulkhead?
• Altitude = 45,000 ft
• Cabin pressure altitude = 7,000 ft
• Scale Height of the atmosphere = 26,000 ft
• Presure differential = 8.63 psi
• Total for = 442,526 lb
EMD SD90GMAC Locomotive
• 6,000 Hp
• 415,000 lb
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17 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Frame Modifications and Sill Beams
FS 1480
FS 2000
FwdUp
Lower Main Sill
ICDR #1
Upper Auxiliary Sill
ICDR # 1
Lower Auxiliary Sill
ICDR#1
Forward Bulkhead Main Frames
ICDR #1
Upper Main Sill
ICDR #1
Fwd Auxiliary Frame
ICDR #4
Aft Auxiliary Frame
ICDR #4
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18 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Control Cables - SOFIA Re-routing
Flight Control Cables
96128500
Hydraulic Lines
(left side) 96128300
APU Fuel Line
96128210
Pitot Lines
96128400
FWD
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19 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Control Cables
Forward
STA 1264
STA 1350
STA 1940
STA 2078
BP#1BP#2
BP#3
BP#4View Looking
Down/Fwd
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20 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Control Cable Re-routing Details
BP#1
BP#2
Forward Bulkhead PlateSTA1394
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21 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Door System Fairings
Forward Fairing
Lower Fairing
Aft Fairing
Fiberglass Close-outFiberglass
Close-out
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22 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA Door System
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23 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Studies of Cavity Acoustics: SOFIA 7% model in
Ames 14 foot Transonic Wind Tunnel
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24 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Test Description/Conditions
• Boeing 747-SP 7% Model
• NASA ARC 14-Foot Tunnel
• Mach: 0.3<M<0.92
• Yaw: -4.5<b<4.5o
• Angle of attack: 2o<a<5o
• TA Elevation: 25o <g< 60o
Data Acquired /Design validation
• Aero-acoustics
• Telescope torque
• Pressure loads
• Boundary layer characterization
Partial External Door
7% Wind Tunnel Tests
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25 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Dynamic Environment in the Cavity
Science
Instrument
Shear Layer at
Cavity Opening
Standing Waves Excited
by the Shear Layer
Wind in Cavity Induced
by the Shear Layer
Aircraft
Vibrations
Cabin
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26 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Major Results of 7% Wind Tunnel Tests
• Shear layer control technology developed successfully
• Shear layer control is robust and provides the quietest
cavity known for an aircraft based open port cavity
• The effect of the cavity on stability and control
characteristics will be negligible
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27 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Stability and Control Studies: SOFIA
Model in U of W Kirsten Wind Tunnel
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28 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Major Results of 3% Wind Tunnel Tests
• Drag - 8 Count Increase CD = 0.0008
• Lift - No change
• Side Force - Small Change depending on door position
• Pitching Moment - Small change ( 2%)
• Yawing Moment - No Change
• Rolling Moment - No Change
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29 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Telescope and Optical Layout
E.T Young et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, L17
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30 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Telescope Size is Maximum forAvailable Volume
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31 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Counter
Weight
Primary Mirror M1
M2
M3-1
M3-2
Focal
Plane
Focal Plane
Imager
Major Telescope Components
Cameras
Focal Plane
Imager
Science
Instrument
Hydraulic System
Motors
Brakes
Bearing Sphere
Forward Bulkhead
Vibration
Isolation
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32 R. D. Gehrz
Spherical Bearing
First Oil at 735 psi
The Bearing Sphere on the Nasmyth Tube
Rotation Isolation Subsystem
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation, Boulder, CO, June 10, 2011ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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33 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Primary Mirror photo here
2.7 M
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34 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Telescope arrival in Waco- Sept 2002
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35 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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36 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Unloading Telescope Pieces
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37 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019Inside aircraft just before SUA installation
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38 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Back End of the SOFIA Telescope
SOFIA Science Vision Blue Ribbon Panel Review October 24, 2008
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39 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA Airborne on July 13, 2010
First Door Open Flight Door Open 100
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40 R. D. Gehrz
• SIs cover the full IR range
with imagers and low to
high resolution
spectrographs
• 4 SIs at Initial Operations;
7 SIs at Full Operations.
• SOFIA will take advantage
of improvements in
instrument technology.
• Will support both Facility
Instruments and PI Class
Instruments
SOFIA Science Instruments
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA supports a unique, expandable suite of Science Instruments (SIs)
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41 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Photometric Sensitivity and Angular resolution
SOFIA is diffraction limited
beyond 25 µm (θmin ~ λ/10 in
arcseconds) and can produce
images three times sharper
than those made by Spitzer
SOFIA is as
sensitive as ISO
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42 R. D. Gehrz42
Results from the First Round of
SOFIA Flights
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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43 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
First Science Results with FORCAST
The FORCAST Team
The DSI Telescope Assembly and
Mission Operations Team
in action during the
First Light Flight
Eight papers have been
published in ApJ Letters, 749,
L17 (April 20 2012)
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44 R. D. Gehrz
First Light on May 26, 2010 UT: We demonstrated
diffraction limited imaging capability at 30 microns
Red = 37.1 m, Green = 24.2 m, Blue = 5.4 m
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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45 R. D. Gehrz
SOFIA Image Quality During Early Science
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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46 R. D. Gehrz
May 5, 2011: First Basic Science Flight
46ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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47 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Inside the Observatory on the First Basic Science Flight
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48 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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49 R. D. Gehrz
SOFIA FORCAST Images of the Orion Nebula
Red = 37.1 m, Green = 24.2 m
Wyoming Infrared Image from
Herzog et al., 1980, Sky and Telescope, 59, 18
Red = 20 m
Green = 12 m
Blue = 5 m
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
• De Buizer etal ApJ Letters 2012 Vol 749 L23
• Shuping etal ApJ Letters 2012 Vol 749 L22
• Adams etal ApJ Letters 2012 Vol 749 L24 (OMC2)
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50 R. D. Gehrz
Lbol = 1.3x104 Lsun
Lbol = 2.1x104 Lsun
• IRc4 luminosity is too high to be
caused by external heating
• BN+IRc4 account for ~50% of
the ~105 L⊙ of the BN/KL
region
Like BN, IRc4 is a Self-
Luminous Source
De Buizer et al. (2012)ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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51 R. D. Gehrz
First Science Results with GREAT on SOFIA
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Twenty two papers on GREAT science have been published in
a special edition of A & A Letters (2012, Volume 542)
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52 R. D. Gehrz
Early Science with GREAT (White CII, Green CO)
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
• GREAT maps M17 SW
molecular cloud
• CII traces the photo-
dissociation region
created on the surface of
the dark cloud by the
ionizing radiation from
the hot young stars
• CO traces the warm cores
where star formation may
be occuring
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53 R. D. Gehrz
• Red-shifted ammonia (NH3) absorption due to infall detected
against the optically thick dust continuum
• Optically thin C17O at 1.27 cm (23.7 GHz) gives the systemic velocity
Vsys
G34.26+0.15 VLA 3.6cm
Probing Protostellar In-Fall with Terahertz Ammonia
Absorption in an Ultra Compact HII Region
F. Wyrowski,et al. 2012, A&A 542, L15
67th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy , Columbus, OH, June 21, 2012
UCHIIR G34.3
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54 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA and Classical Nova Explosions
What can SOFIA tell us about
Classical Nova Explosions?
• Gas phase abundances
• Stardust formation and
mineralogy, and abundances
• Contributions to ISM clouds
• Kinematics of the Ejection
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55 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA FORCAST Grism Spectrum of V339 Del
• Pure Hydrogen emission spectrum
• Metallic forbidden lines are quenched at the high shell density of ~ 1011 cm-3
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56 R. D. Gehrz
SOFIA FORCAST Grism Spectra of the Dust Forming CN V5668 Sgr
Hu (86)
Hu (76)
Hu (96)
HI (87)
HI (108)
HI (87)
HI (119)
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
T = 1188 K
T = 718 K
2016 July 15
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57 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Occultation Astronomy with SOFIA
Earth
Toward
Occulted Star
Motion of Occulting Object
Shadow of
Occulting Object
Object
• Occultation studies probe sizes,
atmospheres, satellites, and
rings of small bodies in the
outer Solar system.
• SOFIA can fly anywhere on
Earth to position itself in the
occultation shadow. Hundreds
of events are available per year
compared to a handful for fixed
ground and space-base
observatories.
How will SOFIA help determine the properties of small Solar System bodies?
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58 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
The Importance of Observing the Central Chord
Consider a Total Lunar Eclipse as an Example• The shadow is not dark because of refraction of light by the Earth’s atmosphere
• The light refracted into the shadow is primarily red because Rayleigh scattering
removes the blue light, a clue that reveals the composition of Earth’s atmosphere
• The brightness of the light in the shadow reveals information about haze and
cloud cover in the lower atmosphere
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59 R. D. Gehrz
HIPO/FDC Observation of Stellar Occultation by Pluto
Scientific goals
• Measure temperature profile
of Pluto’s atmosphere
• Test atmospheric freeze-out
models
• Target central flash – global
atmospheric shape, possible
extinction
Programmatic Goal
• Demonstrate successful in-
flight prediction update and
flight plan change to enable
observation on the central
chord
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Ted Dunham et.al. (HIPO), Lowell Observatory, Jürgen
Wolf (SOFIA DSI) & Mike Person et al., MIT
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60 R. D. Gehrz
Pluto Occultation Results
• Central brightening seen in
HIPO blue and red channels
and Fast Diagnostic Camera
(FDC) visual channel
• Post-event data indicates
impact parameter <100 km!
• The atmosphere of Pluto is
still there contrary to
predictions that it will frozen
out as Pluto heads for
aphelion
• Central brightening suggests
the presence of a low-altitude
haze layer FDC
HIPO
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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61 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
The Haze Layer above Pluto from New Horizons
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62 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
SOFIA and Comets during Perihelion Passage
What can SOFIA tell us about
The origin of the Solar System for
studies of comets at perihelion
passage?
• Comet dust mineralogy and
physical properties
• Comparisons with IDPs
• Comparisons with meteorites
• Comparisons with Stardust
• Only SOFIA can get these
observationsNASA/UM C. M. Lisse et al., Science 313, 635 (2006)
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63 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
EXES and Comets: Gas Phase Constituents
• Production rates of water and other volatiles
• Water (H20) H2 ortho/para (parallel – anti-
parallel) hydrogen spin isomer ratio gives
the water formation temperature; a similar
analysis can done on the spin isomers of
methane (CH4)
• Only SOFIA can make these observations
near perihelion
C. E. Woodward et al.
2007, ApJ, 671, 1065
B. P. Bonev et al.
2007, ApJ, 661,
L97
C/2003 K4
Spitzer
Theory
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64 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Observation of Exoplanets with the Stratospheric
Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
R. D. Gehrza, D. Angerhausenb, E. E. Becklinc, M. A. Greenhoused, S. Hornere,
A. Krabbeb, M. R. Swainf, and E. T. Youngc
aDepartment of Astronomy, University of Minnesota, bDeutsches SOFIA Institut (DSI), University of Stuttgart,
cUniversities Space Research Association, dNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, eLockheed Martin, fJPL/Caltech
http://www.sofia.usra.edu
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65 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Astro-chemistry of Proto-Planetary Disks with SOFIA
• High spectral resolution can determine where species reside in the disk;
small radii produce double-peaked, wider lines.
• Observing many sources at different ages in this way will trace the disk
chemical and mineral evolution
mineral grains
ices
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66 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
• Transits provide good estimates for the mass, size and density of the planet
• Transits can reveal the presence of, satellites, and/or planetary rings
• Spectroscopic observations can reveal the presence and composition of an
atmosphere
SOFIA and Extra-solar Planet Transits• There are more than 2030 extra-solar planets in 1288 systems (502 are multiple planet
systems). The masses of 559 have been measured by Doppler velocities.
• SOFIA flies above the scintillating component of the atmosphere where it can detect
transits of planets across bright stars at high signal to noise
HD 209458b transit:
a) artist’s concept and
b) HST STIS data
a)
b)
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67 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Detection of Biogenic Molecules in Extrasolar Planetary
Atmospheres by the transit Method
M. R. Swain et al.
2009, ApJ, 690, L114
HD 189733b
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68 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
FORCAST Imaging and Grism Observations
of Comet C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS)
C. E. Woodward et al. 2015 (to be submitted)
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69 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
EXES: The chemistry of disks with radius and Age
• High spatial and spectral
resolution can determine
where different species
reside in the disk
• small radii produce
double-peaked, wider lines.
• Observing
many disks
at different
ages will trace
disk chemical
evolution
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70 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Thermal Emission from PAH Rich Objects
• A key question is whether
portions of the aromatic
population of PAHs are
converted to species of
biological significance
• Far-IR spectroscopy can
constrain the size and
shape of PAH molecules
and clusters.
• The lowest lying
vibrational modes
(“drumhead” modes) will
be observed by SOFIA’s
spectrometers
NGC2024
Kandori, R., et al. 2007, PASJ, 59, 487
Vibrational modes of PAHs in a planetary
nebula and the ISM (A. Tielens 2008)
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71 R. D. Gehrz
ASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
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72 R. D. GehrzASTRO 2001, December 5, 2019
Summary
• The Program is making progress!
Four years of Science flights have produced
interesting results and >60 publications
Pluto occultation observations showcase
SOFIA’s potential
Performance expectations are being met
Cycle 5 observations will begin in 6 months
• SOFIA will be one of the primary observational
facilities for far-IR and submillimeter
astronomy for until 2035
Our Web site: http://www.sofia.usra.edu//