Airborne infrared astronomy.

Earth's atmosphere more often than not hinders accurate astronomical observations at infrared wavelengths. This paper outlines two methods of high-atmosphere astronomy which make IR observations possible. The first consists of launching a gondola to an altitude of 30 km and equipping it with a helium cooled 500 IR telescope. This would permit observations at all wavelengths from 10 microns to 1 mm over a period of three days. The second involves a somewhat simpler method: equipping a C-141 aircraft (cruise altitude 10-15 km) with a 91 cm Cassegrain telescope. Recent IR observations from aircraft are presented as an example of the effectiveness of this technique.