SOFIA Studying the Birth of Stars from a Flying Telescope (49)
Shirtloads of Science · Karl Kruszelnicki
September 24, 201726m 4s
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Show Notes
SOFIA is the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.
Some German astronomers have made a one hundred inch telescope that picks up infrared. They bent it and shrunk it so that it fits into a NASA provided 747 Jumbo Jet. Dr Karl was lucky enough to be taken up for a ride. He spoke with Oliver Zeile about the engineering that keeps the telescope focused and on-target, and with Melanie Chavance who is studying the birth of stars in our nearest galaxy.