Measuring the water vapor above the SOFIA Observatory

Thomas L. Roellig; Lunming Yuen; David Sisson; Allan Meyer

doi:10.1117/12.856506

4 August 2010 Measuring the water vapor above the SOFIA Observatory

Thomas L. Roellig, Lunming Yuen, David Sisson, Allan Meyer

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 773339 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856506
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The SOFIA airborne observatory flies in the lower stratosphere above more than 99.9% of the Earth's water vapor. As low as this residual water vapor is, it will still affect SOFIA's infrared and sub-millimeter astronomical observations. As a result, a heterodyne instrument operating at 183 GHz will be used to measure the integrated water vapor overburden in flight. The accuracy of the measured precipitable water vapor must be 2 microns or better, 3 sigma, and measured at least once a minute. This presentation will cover the design and the measured laboratory performance of this instrument, and will discuss other options for determining the water vapor overburden during the SOFIA Early Science shared-risk period.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas L. Roellig, Lunming Yuen, David Sisson, and Allan Meyer "Measuring the water vapor above the SOFIA Observatory", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 773339 (4 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856506

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available