This page describes an image SOFIA: Unveiling the Infrared Universe from the Skies
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Image caption:
This image shows the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) telescope. This telescope which operated from 2010 to 2022 was mounted in a modified Boeing 747 aircraft with a section of the rear fuselage removed to allow the telescope to observe the sky and with other modifications that allow it to fly at a higher altitude than a standard 747.
Many molecules which are common in the Earth's atmosphere (such as water, carbon dioxide and methane) absorb radiation at infrared wavelengths. This interferes with infrared observations made from the ground. SOFIA flew at an altitude that puts it above most of the water vapour in the Earth's atmosphere, greatly reducing the impact of absorption by water molecules on its observations.
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Image credit: NASA photo / Jim Ross Credit Link
Related glossary terms:
Infrared Astronomy
, Infrared Telescope
Image license: Public Domain Public Domain icons
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Captions in Different Languages:
Image caption: Dieses Bild zeigt das Teleskop des „Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy“ (SOFIA). Dieses Teleskop war in einem umgebauten Boeing-747-Flugzeug untergebracht, bei dem ein Teil des hinteren Rumpfes entfernt wurde, damit das Teleskop den Himmel beobachten kann. Das Flugzeug wies darüber hinaus weitere Umbauten auf, die es ihm ermöglichten, in einer höheren Flughöhen als eine normale 747 zu fliegen.
Viele Moleküle, die in der Erdatmosphäre häufig vorkommen (wie Wasser, Kohlendioxid und Methan), absorbieren Strahlung im Infrarotbereich. Dies beeinträchtigt Infrarotbeobachtungen vom Boden aus. SOFIA flog in einer Höhe, die oberhalb eines Großteils des Wasserdampfs in der Erdatmosphäre lag, wodurch die Auswirkungen der Absorption durch Wassermoleküle auf seine Beobachtungen erheblich reduziert wurden.
Image credit: NASA-Foto / Jim Ross
Related glossary terms: Infrarotastronomie , Infrarotteleskop Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Simon Kraus
Image caption: Questa immagine mostra il telescopio SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). Il telescopio è installato a bordo di un Boeing 747 modificato, al quale è stata rimossa una sezione della fusoliera posteriore per consentire al telescopio di osservare il cielo, e che presenta altre modifiche che gli permettono di volare a un’altitudine maggiore rispetto a un 747 standard.
Molte molecole presenti nell’atmosfera terrestre (come l’acqua, l’anidride carbonica e il metano) assorbono la radiazione alle lunghezze d’onda infrarosse. Ciò interferisce con le osservazioni all’infrarosso effettuate da terra. SOFIA vola a un’altitudine che lo colloca al di sopra della maggior parte del vapore acqueo presente nell’atmosfera terrestre, riducendo notevolmente l’impatto dell’assorbimento da parte delle molecole d’acqua sulle sue osservazioni.
Image credit: Foto della NASA / Jim Ross
Related glossary terms: Astronomia all'infrarosso , Telescopio a infrarossi Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Giuliana Giobbi
