Since its first flight in 2007, NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, in any other case referred to as SOFIA, has noticed the universe from 41,000 toes above the Earth’s floor. Now, the distinctive house telescope housed in a modified Boeing 747 has taken its final flight. In honor of the flight, NASA has shared a few of the most breathtaking SOFIA telescope photographs captured within the final decade.
SOFIA has been an modern approach to take a look at the universe utilizing infrared, the identical expertise that now powers NASA’s James Webb house telescope. Unlike ground-based telescopes, which might’t see by way of the water vapor within the Earth’s ambiance, SOFIA noticed house from over 40,000 toes above the bottom. This allowed it to see by way of the ambiance extra clearly, capturing a a lot better view.
With SOFIA grounded, NASA astronomers will proceed combing the information that the flying house telescope captured. But, within the meantime, NASA has shared just a few SOFIA telescope photographs that you might want to see for your self.
NASA shared the pictures on Instagram. The first picture within the brief collage is of Centaurus A, a galaxy that options darkish orange-red mud lanes by way of a blue exterior. Centaurus A seems to be completely lovely within the picture, and NASA adopted it with a 3D picture of the Orion Nebula. We lately noticed a James Webb picture of the Orion Nebula, and it’s implausible to see one other of it right here once more however in 3D.
Both James Webb and the SOFIA house telescope view the universe by way of infrared gentle, giving them a novel means to see into the early universe. The third SOFIA telescope picture featured on Instagram is of a cigar galaxy. In the picture, you’ll be able to see how the extreme outburst of a star has created an attractive and distinctive look that’s surrounded by rings of starlight.
To seize these SOFIA telescope photographs, astronomers would board the large house telescope – it was the world’s largest airborne telescope – after which fly by way of the darkish of evening. This allowed the crew aboard to seize knowledge utilizing the telescopic mechanisms constructed into the facet of the plane. It has offered astronomers with a ton of information, and NASA says we’ll be unpacking it for years to return.
Source: bgr.com