Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a Boeing 747 jet aircraft that carries a 2.5-metre (8.2-foot) telescope for performing astronomical observations of infrared sources from high altitudes. SOFIA is operated jointly by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the German space agency, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). SOFIA typically flies at an altitude of 12,500 metres (41,000 feet) to measure infrared radiation emitted by planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial...