Doc Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Just watched a program about the SOFIA telescope. It's on board a jumbo jet and it's simply awesome. You look at the scope and it moves so you persume it's moving inside the scope tracking the object, but it's not, it's the plane moving around the scope. Simply amazing piece of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 So the plane is constantly turning by a few degrees to maintain the scope's target? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Yeah, I saw a programme about that last week, the plane basicly flies from one side of the states to the other constanly changing it's course so the scope never looses site of it's target, it does look awsome when it moves, like Mick says, you think the scope is moveing but in fact it is the plane banking left/right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 Thats right Craig, it really looks weird when the plane banks left and right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 (edited) Here is a few pics I found. The plane has had nearly all it's seats removed, loaded with computers, servers etc and then this massive telescope near the back, been up and running since 2006, I beleive they still use it now! Edited December 15, 2011 by Daz type-r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 That's pretty incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Not to mention its full of liquid helium and Nitrogen to cool it to near absolute zero (-273 degrees C). This is so it doesn't produce any unwanted heat or light itself. Did you see their "Frosty Leo", that's a nice looking Nebula. http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/potw1149a/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 I did Baz it was really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 How does it cope with turbulence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 The scope always looks like it's moving but it's not the scope is still and the plane compenstaes for turbulance and banking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Cunning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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