Article
Article
Infrared astronomy
Article By:
Bhattacharya, Bidushi W. M. Keck Science Department, Claremont McKenna-Pitzer-Scripps Colleges, Claremont, California.
Last reviewed:February 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.344200
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- Infrared astronomy, published January 2014:Download PDF
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The field of astronomical observations specializing in detecting photons from the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared astronomy plays an important role particularly in the study of cooler astrophysical objects, ranging from asteroids and comets to exoplanets and developing stars. These objects emit brightly in the infrared, although they may be veiled by clouds of dust that conceal their presence at shorter, optical wavelengths. Infrared astronomy thus affords researchers an opportunity to study phenomena that would go unseen if relying on just visible light (Fig. 1). See also: Asteroid; Comet; Exoplanets; Galaxy; Light; Star
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