;
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
2
observed from the ground because infrared radiation is blocked from reaching
the ground by water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere. Infrared light from
space can only be observed from a plane, balloon borne instruments, or with
satellites. SOFIA's job is to track the part of the night sky that is invisible to
us on Earth, and cruising at an altitude of 13 km, she is in prime position to do
so.
Flying up to five 10 hour flights each week in both the northern and
southern hemispheres, astronomers use SOFIA to study a wide variety of
astronomical objects and phenomena including:
Picture 1 – NASA SOFIA aircraft in flight
11
