HIGH BRIDGE - Four local teachers are among 24 educators selected to fly on NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the worlds largest flying telescope in 2014.

Theresa Roelofsen Moody, a High Bridge resident who works at the New Jersey Astronomy Center at Raritan Valley Community College, will join Margaret Holzer, Michael Maccarone and Elizabeth Rosenberger to fly on board SOFIA during the week of May 11.

The observatory flies from its home base in Palmdale, Calif., and the educators will work side-by-side with astronomer teams witnessing all stages of scientific research, from preparations to observations to data analysis and publication. They will normally fly aboard the observatory twice, and then implement classroom lessons and public outreach programs based on their experiences.

SOFIAs Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program began in 2010 and has flown 26 educators from 14 states and eight from Germany on science flights in 2010-2012.

SOFIA is an extensively modified Boeing 747SP jetliner equipped with a 100-inch diameter telescope.

The observatory enables the analysis of infrared light to study the formation of stars and planets; chemistry of interstellar gases; composition of comets, asteroids and planets; and supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies.

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Local educator to fly on telescope