SOFIA Early Science with FORCAST

Some Quick-Look Results - Terry Herter, FORCAST P.I. Cornell University

TLH: 08-Jun-11

Herter DAOF media day 2

Experiences flying on SOFIA

  Early science observations with SOFIA   From preparations to installation to science

  It has been both challenging and rewarding   We are part of a making a highly complex system

work   But, of course, that is the point (to push new

boundaries)   At every stage things have worked better than

(I) expected

Herter DAOF media day 3

Installation on the plane

  Installing PI rack & getting FORCAST into plane

Herter DAOF media day 4

FORCAST on the telescope

  Positioning FORCAST to mount on telescope

  Cryogen transfers on the plane

Example: from previous to the present

  Above left: Spitzer composite image at 3.6, 4.5, and 8.0 µm of W3 (Ruch et al. 2007). Middle: 20 µm image from Wynn-Williams, et al. 1972 and FIR images from Werner et al. 1980. Right: Images from SOFIA

20 µm (Palomar)

30 µm (KAO)

50 µm (KAO)

19.7 µm

31.5 µm

37.1 µm

Herter DAOF media day 6

Results

  Science flights have been highly successful.   3 Short Science and 10 Basic Science have lots of

publishable results   Wide range of programs covering planetary

science, star formation, stellar evolution, the interstellar medium, and others.