Active Astronomy:Active Astronomy:Learning about Infrared LightLearning about Infrared Light

Doris DaouSIRTF / JPL EPODana Backman

SOFIA / NASA-Ames EPO

OutlineOutline

Electromagnetic radiation ( = light! )Electromagnetic radiation ( = light! ) Infrared radiation - Infrared camera demosInfrared radiation - Infrared camera demos Infrared astronomyInfrared astronomy NASA’s SIRTF and SOFIA projectsNASA’s SIRTF and SOFIA projects [break][break] Active Astronomy kitsActive Astronomy kits Contact infoContact info

Temperature determines dominant Temperature determines dominant wavelength emitted …wavelength emitted …

Getting the WHOLE pictureGetting the WHOLE picture

Constellation OrionConstellation Orionleft: visual wavelengthsleft: visual wavelengthsright: far-infrared imageright: far-infrared image

An object can look radically different depending An object can look radically different depending on the type of light collected from it:on the type of light collected from it:

Visible Near Infrared Mid-Infrared

Visible: dark nebula, heavily obscured by Visible: dark nebula, heavily obscured by interstellar dustinterstellar dust

Near-IR: dust is transparent, embedded proto-Near-IR: dust is transparent, embedded proto-stars can be observedstars can be observed

Mid- and far-IR: glow from cold dust is directly Mid- and far-IR: glow from cold dust is directly observable observable

Infrared gives us the first glimpse of star formation on a spectacular scale.

SOFIA -- The Next Generation SOFIA -- The Next Generation Airborne ObservatoryAirborne Observatory

2.5 meter telescope mounted in a 747-SP2.5 meter telescope mounted in a 747-SP ““First Light” expected winter 2004-2005First Light” expected winter 2004-2005 150 flights per year when fully operational150 flights per year when fully operational First observatory designed to support E/POFirst observatory designed to support E/PO

Airborne Astronomy AmbassadorsAirborne Astronomy Ambassadors

Educators will fly onboard Educators will fly onboard SOFIA to experience and SOFIA to experience and participate in the scientific participate in the scientific research experienceresearch experience• E/PO work stationE/PO work station• 10 seats in front cabin10 seats in front cabin• Access throughout the Access throughout the

observatoryobservatory• 200+ visitors fly each 200+ visitors fly each

year in full operationyear in full operation

Register online & receive Register online & receive SOFIA’s EPO Electronic NewsletterSOFIA’s EPO Electronic Newsletter

http://sofia.arc.nasa.gov/Edu/newsletter/subscribe.html

Active Astronomy kitsActive Astronomy kits

Available ready-made through the Astronomical Society Available ready-made through the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s online storeof the Pacific’s online store• http://www.astrosociety.orghttp://www.astrosociety.org

($70 each for ready-made kits; approx. $60 if you want to hunt ($70 each for ready-made kits; approx. $60 if you want to hunt down the pieces yourself)down the pieces yourself)

1) Light filters (gels)1) Light filters (gels)

2) Detecting infrared radiation2) Detecting infrared radiation

3) Infrared radiation and reflection3) Infrared radiation and reflection

4) Infrared radiation used to transmit information4) Infrared radiation used to transmit information

The Herschel ExperimentThe Herschel Experiment SIRTF has produced a self-SIRTF has produced a self-

contained, classroom-ready contained, classroom-ready activity that recreates activity that recreates Herschel’s 1800 discovery of Herschel’s 1800 discovery of infrared light.infrared light.

• Evaluated by Origins Forum, Evaluated by Origins Forum, mapped to national education mapped to national education standardsstandards

• Activity has become a popular Activity has become a popular science-fair projectscience-fair project

• Selected as OSS Outstanding Selected as OSS Outstanding ResourceResource

Visit our website at coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.eduVisit our website at coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu Also in SpanishAlso in Spanish Request videos and posters from:Request videos and posters from:

Michelle ThallerMichelle Thaller

thaller@ipac.caltech.eduthaller@ipac.caltech.edu

(626) 395-8670(626) 395-8670

For further information:For further information:

SIRTF Web siteSIRTF Web sitehttp://sirtf.caltech.eduhttp://sirtf.caltech.edu

SIRTF’s award-winning IR tutorialSIRTF’s award-winning IR tutorial

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.eduhttp://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu SETI InstituteSETI Institute

http://www.seti.orghttp://www.seti.org Astronomical Society of the PacificAstronomical Society of the Pacific

http://www.astrosociety.orghttp://www.astrosociety.org• can purchase infrared demo kits at their on-line storecan purchase infrared demo kits at their on-line store