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SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, was a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 2.7-meter (106-inch) reflecting telescope (with an effective diameter of 2.5 meters or 100 inches). Flying into the stratosphere at 38,000-45,000 feet put SOFIA above 99 percent of Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere, allowing astronomers to study the solar system and beyond in ways that are not possible with ground-based telescopes. In this talk I will present a brief history of SOFIA, it’s technical achievements, instruments onboard, and what it takes to be an airborne astronomer. I will conclude the talk with some of the science highlights and discoveries that were enabled by SOFIA.

Sachin Shenoy is an astronomer working as a principal staff scientist at Space Telescope Science Institutes (STScI) in Baltimore, MD and supports two instruments: WFC3 onboard Hubble and MIRI on James Webb Space Telescope. Before moving to STScI he was a senior research scientist at Space Telescope Institute (SSI) in Boulder CO and was a part of SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy), Science Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC). During his time at SSI and ARC he was working with three near to far-infrared instruments: FLITECAM, FORCAST and HAWC+ onboard NASA’s SOFIA. Prior to SOFIA, he was a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at Ames Research Center, staff scientist at Spitzer Space Telescope Science Center, MIPSGAL postdoctoral fellow and adjunct faculty at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His science interests are, understanding the physical and chemical properties of molecular clouds, effects of star formation on the interstellar grains, creation and destruction of organics in the interstellar medium and circumstellar disks.

Sachin is an avid bird watcher and loves the outdoors, frequently volunteering for National Park Service, Mobile Earth and Space Observatory (MESO), Astronomy on Tap, and local/city parks and recreation. He also enjoys cooking, traveling and long-distance running.