Abstract

The Echelon-cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES), one of the first generation instruments for the Statospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will provide a unique tool for examining the ISM and star formation. The EXES high spectral resolution mode, R ≤ 120 000 from 4.5 μ m to 28.3 μ m, is designed for line observations of gas-phase molecules. The improved atmospheric transmission guaranteed by SOFIA will make observations of molecules such as H 2 O and CH 4 fairly routine. EXES will also have medium and low resolution modes to enable a wide range of science projects. EXES is a PI instrument open for collaborative proposals following the model of the successful TEXES instrument (Lacy et al. ). It is currently scheduled for first science flights on SOFIA in 2013.

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