Observing, New Zealand—July, 2013

SOFIA New Zealand Deployment Flight 116
NASA photo by Carla Thomas

Mascot lamb

Just a few dials and buttons...

Take off!

The lights of Christchurch (from the cockpit)

The crew of SOFIA at their stations

Ed basks in the Kiwi sunset

The islands north of Auckland

The southern alps and glacial valleys

Robert!

Juergen

Jeff and Matt run the telescope while Shannon admires the LMC

The LMC

Michael greets Rolf after a successful flight
NASA photo by Carla Thomas

Miguel shows some cool data to Robert while Ed looks on

Ed and Robert review the observations

SOFIA New Zealand Deployment Flight 116
NASA photo by Carla Thomas

The GREAT team reviews their script for the next act

You wouldn't know the data is incredibly good by looking at their faces

At my station
Photo by Robert Simon

Auroras dance...
Photo by Robert Simon

across...

...the wingtips of SOFIA

Rolf covers up Robert for his shots of the aurora

Alan views the tarantula nebula
Photo by Robert Simon

The tarantula nebula

The captain is always right and I'm the captain

Stefan, Ed, and Robert at their stations

Ed and Robert discuss

Ed drives while Patrick and Robert look on