814. WE-Heraeus-Seminar — Heritage of SOFIA – Scientific Highlights and Future Prospectives

SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 2.7-meter telescope. Flying above 99% of the water vapor of Earth’s atmosphere, SOFIA provided the astrophysical community with regular access to the mid- and far-infrared universe. Being an 80/20 partnership between NASA and the German Space Agency, DLR, the project was cancelled in 2022. The end of the SOFIA mission is leaving the astronomical community with no far-IR observatory in near sight, however with a rich heritage of astronomical data awaiting to be explored. This 814. WE-Heraeus-Seminar will bring together experts and young researchers in the field of infrared astronomy and infrared instrumentation to celebrate SOFIA's scientific highlights, to explore its data heritage, and to discuss and define scientific goals, technologies, opportunities, and also strategies towards future far-IR astronomy and its platforms.