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infrared astronomy
Sign in to saveobservational astronomy of emissions over the wavelength band 0.75 to 300 micrometers
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- Infrared astronomy
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- Category:Infrared astronomy
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Encyclopedic overview
Infrared astronomy is a sub-discipline of astronomy which specializes in the observation and analysis of astronomical objects using infrared (IR) radiation. The wavelength of infrared light ranges from 0.75 to 300 micrometers, and falls in between visible radiation, which ranges from 380 to 750 nanometers, and submillimeter waves.
Infrared astronomy began in the 1830s, a few decades after the discovery of infrared light by William Herschel in 1800. Early progress was limited, and it was not until the early 20th century that conclusive detections of astronomical objects other than the Sun and Moon were made in infrared light. After a number of discoveries were made in the 1950s and 1960s in radio astronomy, astronomers realized the information available outside the visible wavelength range, and modern infrared astronomy was established.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “infrared astronomy” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.