The Antelope Valley Times

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MOAH artist flies with NASA aboard SOFIA

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Shana Mabari poses in front of NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the largest airborne observatory. [Contributed]
LANCASTER – The Museum of Art and History’s (MOAH) Shana Mabari became the first artist to fly onboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) during a December mission.

Mabari, known in the Antelope Valley for her sculpture, Astral Challenger, located at Challenger Way and Avenue L, rode with the NASA team on Dec. 11 to gather information for communicating NASA science through art.  Mabari spent the 10 hour flight observing celestial magnetic fields, star-forming regions, comets, nebulae, and the galactic center.

“It was an honor and a privilege to experience the elegant complexities of infrared astronomy, astrophysics, and astrochemistry with the NASA team,” Mabari said.

As an extension of the project, Mabari and MOAH will partner with publisher Griffith Moon to create a book dedicated to the interpretations of the term “space” through text and images. This exhibit will also include the spatial installation work of Laddie John Dill and photographs by artist Jay Mark Johnson.

“This exhibit will forge an important connection between the arts and science, especially given the region’s deep history with aerospace and its creative innovation,” said Ronda Perez, Assistant City Manager for the City of Lancaster.

For more information about MOAH, visit www.lancastermoah.org or call 661-723-6250.

[Information via news release from the city of Lancaster.]

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Filed Under: Lancaster

5 comments for "MOAH artist flies with NASA aboard SOFIA"

  1. I just want to know what SOFIA is really doing up there for all those hours ….what are they really looking at?? What are they tracking…?? Because, she aint cheap to put in the air…so they must have a good reason to fly her million dollar ass around….for at least 10 hours at a time………

    • It’s in the middle of nowhere traffic circle at 10th East and Ave L. Basically the only way anyone ever sees it is either right before or right after they crash their car. If you go looking to see it bring a driver, because there’s nowhere to stop a car and get out. Another brilliantly executed plan by the Wrecks cartel.

    • Challenger Way and Ave. L. Look up her name to see all of her art. They are beautiful, including “Astral Challenger.” You can’t miss it.