Note:  We will have a virtual club meeting in May.  Club Members will receive instructions via Email on how to attend this meeting. 

Presentation :  The Flying Observatory

Abstract:  SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is 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 puts 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. SOFIA is made possible through a partnership between NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Speaker: Bob Braur

As a life long amateur astronomer, Bob Brauer has been involved with astronomy clubs and public outreach across the country. He is a past president of the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) in San Jose, California.

His engineering career in Silicon Valley with Siemens and Sun Microsystems led him to the opportunity to join NASA's SOFIA program as the Safety and Quality Assurance Manager for Universities Space Research Association (USRA) for 10 years until his retirement in 2018. 

Bob and his wife Karen moved to the Greenville area in 2019 and he is having great fun as a staff astronomer and volunteer for the Roper Mountain Science Center.