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CU-BOULDER FACULTY MEMBER TO MAKE STELLAR OBSERVATIONS WITH AIRBORNE OBSERVATORY
Dec 1st
A University of Colorado at Boulder faculty member is one of two scientists who will use data gathered by a world-class telescope flying aboard a modified Boeing 747 to peer at a distant star-forming region during its inaugural science flight this week.
Known as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, the jet was significantly modified in order to mount a 2.5-meter reflecting telescope in the rear fuselage, said Senior Research Associate Paul Harvey of CU-Boulder’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, one of the scientists involved in the mission.
The jet will fly at 40,000 to 45,000 feet in altitude, putting it above more than 99 percent of the water vapor in the atmosphere — which blocks infrared light from reaching the ground — and will allow scientists to observe stellar targets in wavelengths of light that can’t be observed by ground-based telescopes, said Harvey.
The aircraft and telescope were successfully tested in the summer of 2009. SOFIA’s Faint Object InfraRed Camera, known as FORCAST, is a versatile camera that collects light from the visible, infrared and sub-millimeter portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, Harvey said.
Harvey will be observing and analyzing the distribution of dust and gas in a young, star-forming cluster known as Sharpless 140 that is roughly 3,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. One light-year is equal to about 6 trillion miles.
“Observing the birth of stars in our own galaxy is critical because planetary systems form at the same time that a central star is formed,” said Harvey. “In addition, some of the most luminous galaxies in the universe appear to be powered by extreme bursts of star formation.”
Harvey flew on several hundred flights of SOFIA’s predecessor, the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, but will not be aboard the first science flight of SOFIA. The second set of observations on this week’s SOFIA science flight will be led by Mark Morris of UCLA, who will be targeting star-forming regions in the Orion nebula.
Harvey said the FORCAST camera on the telescope has large, two-dimensional array detectors that are similar to charge-coupled devices found in digital cameras. The goal is to obtain a sequence of images of the star cluster with the telescope, which will move almost imperceptibly between each image in order to sample “sub-pixels.”
One advantage of the SOFIA observatory is that scientists can make changes and improvements to the craft’s instruments between flights as well as change observing techniques, said Harvey. “These are impossible tasks for orbiting telescopes that have very fixed procedures for the instruments and observations.”
He also is working with the FORCAST team to interpret data gathered during the first science flight in order to carefully characterize SOFIA’s imaging capabilities for future users.
Harvey said he hopes to build a long-term program of specialized observations on SOFIA that eventually will involve data analysis by CU-Boulder students.
NASA hopes SOFIA will continue to fly astronomical science observations for the next two decades, with research flights expected to ramp up to two or three flights a week by 2015. SOFIA’s suite of instruments are expected to gather new information on a wide variety of astronomical targets, including black holes, distant galaxies, the formation of stars and planets, and up close views of comets and asteroids.
SOFIA is a joint project between NASA and the German Aerospace Center. SOFIA’s science and mission operations are managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association in Columbia, Md., and the Deutsches SOFIA Institut in Stuttgart, Germany.
SOURCE: CU PRESS RELEASE
Open Space and Mountain Parks to host open house to discuss community management proposals for land west of Boulder
Dec 1st
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department invites members of the community to an open house on Monday, Dec. 6. The purpose of this meeting is to share information and gather feedback about a set of recommendations for management of the West Trail Study Area (West TSA). The open house will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive in Boulder.
A group of local residents interested in recreation and resource conservation has been working with city staff since September 2009 to develop recommendations on practical and feasible ways to improve community services in the West TSA. This Community Collaborative Group (CCG) includes representatives from recreation, conservation, and cultural resource interests as well as neighborhoods adjacent to the West TSA. After 14 months of meetings and field trips, the CCG has released its preliminary proposals and is seeking input from the public.
The CCG’s proposals will guide the West TSA Plan. The plan will provide management direction for OSMP lands north of Eldorado Springs Drive, south of Linden Avenue and west of Broadway/Colorado Highway 93 for the next ten years. Background documents, including the CCG’s recommendations, are available at the West TSA website, www.westtsa.org.
“We are very grateful for the time, energy and creativity contributed by CCG members. They deliberated over many difficult issues and are proposing an extensive and well‑balanced mix of recommendations,” said Steve Armstead, project manager for OSMP. “The group’s input has broadened our perspectives and provided a strong grassroots foundation for the West TSA plan.”
For information on OSMP planning processes or to learn how to get involved, please visit www.westtsa.org or call 303-441-3440.
SOURCE: CITY PRESS RELEASE
Boulder firefighters and Parks and Recreation team up to brighten local children’s holidays
Dec 1st
The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Services Initiative (YSI) program is working to brighten children’s holidays this season with help from the community and the Boulder Fire Department’s IAFF Local 900 union.
YSI provides youth from low-income families with opportunities and resources necessary to make positive recreational, educational, and lifestyle choices through after-school programs and community involvement activities.
This year, YSI will host holiday parties for program youth and their families during the week of Dec. 13. Last year’s holiday parties served more than 150 families and delivered nearly 500 gifts to the children.
IAFF Local 900 support of YSI
The Boulder Fire Department’s IAFF Local 900 union will donate money for the fourth consecutive year. Their donations will help purchase gifts for children served by the YSI program who are living at Boulder’s low-income housing sites (managed by Boulder Housing Partners). The firefighters say this is a way to give back to kids in their very own community.
“We wanted to be able to put toys in the hands of the kids we see in school and while running calls in their neighborhoods,” said Lt. John Nunez, who has been involved with the department’s toy drive efforts for 18 years. “The kids are just in awe when we show up in uniform and in our fire trucks.”
Then there are the parents’ reactions. “This is just really touching for them. In some cases, this may be the only gift their child is going to get. It’s a great feeling to be able to help, but it’s also a humbling feeling.”
Community asked to help with donations
If you would like to make a donation to the YSI Program Toy Drive, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org, click on the “Youth Services toy drive – Donate today!” link and follow the instructions. A secure PayPal connection is provided and personal information will not be shared. Donations can be made using a major credit card or PayPal account. A small processing fee is deducted by PayPal from all donations. All donors will receive a receipt from PayPal and a Thank You from YSI. Checks can also be made payable to “YSI” and submitted to YSI, Attn: Alex Zinga, 3198 Broadway Ave., Boulder, CO 80304.
Additional funding over the amount needed for the toy drive will be placed in the YSI Scholarship Fund, which helps fund year-round recreation programs for low-income youth.
SOURCE: CITY PRESS RELEASE