SOFIA's Window Seat
影像提供: Courtesy Dana Backman (SETI Institute), USRA, L-3
Explanation:
Earlier this month, a 2.5-meter diameter infrared telescope was permanently assigned a window seat, looking through this opening in the fuselage of a historic Boeing 747 aircraft. The telescope mirror, about the size of the Hubble Space Telescope mirror, is protected by a red covering. Known as the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the airborne observatory is intended to fly at altitudes up to 45,000 feet - above more than 99% of the atmospheric water vapor. Water vapor strongly absorbs infrared light, so at that altitude SOFIA will be able to acquire infrared images not possible for even the largest ground-based telescopes. SOFIA's unique capabilities will include the ability to trace complex molecules in the cosmic environments surrounding star birth and death and the formation of new solar systems. The SOFIA aircraft was operated by Pan American World Airways and was originally christened the "Clipper Lindbergh". The airborne observatory was designed with an on board console for teachers and other educators to participate in research flights.
說明:
在上個月初，一部2.5公尺口徑的紅外光望遠鏡被安裝在靠窗的位置，透過一架舊波音747機身的開口凝視外面的世界。影像中大小和哈伯太空望遠鏡相當的望遠鏡鏡面，上面蓋著紅色的保護遮罩。這部飛機稱為同溫層紅外線天文台 (SOFIA; Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy)，設計在高度約一萬四千公尺處進行觀測，以避開超過99%的水氣。大氣所含的水氣最能吸收紅外光，所以在這個觀測高度，蘇菲亞天文台所能取得的紅外光影像就連最大的地面望遠鏡都做不到；蘇菲亞天文台獨特的能力包括能找出恆星誕生、死亡和新太陽系周圍的複雜分子之分佈。蘇菲亞飛行天文台的前身是泛美航空的飛機，原來的名字是林白飛艇。這座飛行天文台配有顯示幕，讓教師及其他教育人員能參與研究工作。
資料來源: Scientific American
Department of Physics, NCKU
