NGC 1097 Magnetic Fields Orientations

Orientations of the magnetic field within the starburst ring of NGC 1097. The blue lines indicate far-infrared data obtained from SOFIA, while the red and orange lines are radio polarimetric observations. The magnetic field has different configurations at far infrared wavelengths compared to radio wavelengths. Credit: Lopez-Rodriguez et al.

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. SOFIA was a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR.