SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

    TOWN HALL session during the 221st AAS meeting in Long Beach, Calif.


Date & Time:  Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 12:45 to 1:55pm
Location: Long Beach Convention Center, Room 104B
A Free box lunch will be provided starting at 12:30pm.

 
SOFIA has completed its program of Early Science observations along with
telescope and instrument characterization flights. The Basic Science
observing program with participation of guest observers was conducted
between May and November, 2011.

Results from observations with the FORCAST mid-IR camera (P.I. Terry
Herter, Cornell U.) were published in an April 2012 special issue of The
Astrophysical Journal Letters (Ap.J.Lett. v. 749). Results from the GREAT
far-IR heterodyne spectrometer (P.I. Rolf Guesten, Max Planck Institute for
Radio Astronomy) were published as a May 2012 special issue of Astronomy &
Astrophysics (A&A v. 542).

During the SOFIA Town Hall session you will hear about the program's
status, recent results, and future calls for observing proposals. SOFIA has
a planned mission lifetime of 20 years and a continually evolving
instrument complement. Upgrades to SOFIA's present instruments and future
opportunities to propose development of innovative instruments will also be
discussed. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of the SOFIA
program representatives.

Session Agenda:

1) Welcome and Introductions (12:45 - 12:50pm)
   Eric Becklin (Chief Scientific Advisor)

2) Program Manager's Outlook  (12:50 - 12:55pm)
   Eddie Zavala (Program Manager)

3) Program Status (12:55- 1:05pm)
   Pam Marcum (Project Scientist)

4) Science Mission Operations and Observing Cycles (1:05 - 1:20pm)
   Erick Young (Science Mission Operations Director)

5) First Science on SOFIA with FORCAST, GREAT & HIPO  (1:20 - 1:40pm)
   Eric Becklin (Chief Scientific Advisor)

6) Questions and Answers (1:40 - 1:55pm)
   Moderator: Eric Becklin (Chief Scientific Advisor)