SOFIA Tours at Seattle AAS Meeting

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will be open for tours during the January 2019 AAS meeting in Seattle. SOFIA will be based at nearby Boeing Field.

Buses will depart the Washington State Convention Center at regular intervals on Monday morning, 7 January, and throughout the day on Tuesday, 8 January, and Wednesday, 9 January. Guests will tour the interior of the observatory while learning more about SOFIA's recent science observations. Science and mission staff will be on hand to discuss the observatory's infrared observations, the engineering challenges of flying and stabilizing a 2.7-meter telescope at altitudes as high as 45,000 feet and speeds of Mach 0.85, as well as its unique operational model: fly 10-hour missions, then return each morning to prepare for the next night's observations.

There is no cost for the tours, but guests must pick up a bus ticket at the SOFIA booth (number 718) in the Exhibit Hall. SOFIA tours are extremely popular, and space is limited. Tours are open to registered AAS meeting attendees and their guests only. The observatory is not open to the general public.

For more information, please visit the SOFIA Tours at the 233rd Meeting of the AAS webpage.