SOFIA observatory in a pursuit of a shadow of the companion of the Neptune

The unusual task will be carried out by the flying SOFIA observatory under which the modified Boeing 747SP plane is equipped. By plane the telescope and three tools which allow to define characteristics of the observed purposes precisely is installed. The flying observatory is used when it is important to change a position of observations that is inaccessible for other types of telescopes. In particular, SOFIA is used for studying of bodies during occlusions. Such phenomenon will happen on October 5 to the companion of the Neptune Tritonom. He will pass before far located star, and her light will pass through Triton's atmosphere which will refract it. 

Observation at this moment will allow to define many characteristics of the atmosphere of the Triton – temperature, pressure, density. Speed of the movement of this microshadow will be 17 km/s on the ground. Therefore SOFIA will solve a complex problem to catch for a while a position of a shadow and to take off data on the Triton. His atmosphere is interesting that because of proximity of the satellite to the Neptune she is exposed to powerful perturbations. Thus, by means of occlusion, SOFIA, for example, in 2011 and 2015 studied Pluto. Didn't watch the Triton in the last 16 years. The previous observations, including by means of "the Voyager 2" in 1989, have shown that the atmosphere of the Triton consists generally of nitrogen.

Sourse