OPB | May 1, 2014 3:15 p.m. | Updated: May 1, 2014 4:23 p.m.

Two Southern Oregon residents are flying with NASA through western skies this week to gather data on the deep corners of theuniverse.

This modified Boeing 747SP jetliner uses a 3.5 meter infrared telescope to gather information about theuniverse.

NASA

Robert Black is the astronomy teacher and planetarium director at North Medford High School. He is joined by his friend, and amateur astronomer, DaveBloomsness.

The pair was chosen along with other educators and scientists to fly aboard the NASA craft called SOFIA the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.

On two flights at about 45,000 feet above sea level, infrared images will be captured at night to help shed light on black holes and the formation and destruction of stars. The first flight was Wednesday night with the second scheduled to depart from Palmdale, California, onThursday

Robert Black said hell never forget what he saw on the first flight. Looking through this really dense, cloudy, dusty region of space and watching a protostar which means the beginning life of a star appear out of this cloud ofdust.

Infrared images captured by NASA's SOFIAaircraft.

NASA

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Two Southern Oregonians Fly High For NASA