Observatories & Telescopes: 4. Infrared
Infrared Astronomy is the detection and study of the infrared radiation, or heat energy, emitted by objects in the universe. All astronomical objects have heat, so all objects emit infrared (IR) radiation. This makes IR astronomy the study of just about everything in the universe.
To observe in IR, astronomers can use the same telescopes they use for optical astronomy, but with different filters and receivers that are fine-tuned to the IR part of the spectrum. Because it is relatively easy to change the telescope over to this type of set-up, a large number of observatories have an IR receiver or spectrograph which can be used.[1]
Photo: The Spitzer Space Telescope
Latest News
Herschel views deep-space pearls on a cosmic string
ESA (Oct. 2, 2009) –Herschel has delivered spectacular vistas of cold gas clouds lying near the plane of the Milky Way, revealing intense, unexpected activity. The dark, cool region is dotted with...
More on this Topic…
Articles
The Herschel Space Observatory will be the largest ever infrared space observatory. Equipped with a 3.5 metre ...
WISE is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that will provide a vast storehouse of knowledge about the solar system...
Introduction Consisting of a 0.85-meter telescope and three cryogenically-cooled science instruments, the Spit...
New stars tend to form with disks of gas and dust around them. After a few hundred thousand years or so, the i...
Introduction The flagship project of Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (...
Introduction La Silla Paranal Observatory Northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. RSS Feed Contact P...
Introduction The Gemini North Observatory consists of one 8.1-meter diameter, altitude-azimuth mounted telesco...
Contact Us
Send to a Friend
