The decade of infrared astronomy
Abstract
Recent technological advances in infrared astronomy are briefly reviewed, emphasizing results of the IRAS program that first demonstrated a long-lived telescope and instrument package cooled by superfluid liquid helium. Particular attention is given to IR detector hybrid arrays with formats up to 256 x 256 pixels in the 1-5 micron wavelength and an IR-optimized 8-m telescope that will allow imaging in the 1-30 micron range. Future initiatives encompass a 1-m cryogenic telescope inserted into a 100,000-km orbit; an 8-m infrared telescope built atop Mauna Kea; and a 2.5-m telescope in a 747 jet that will fly above 99 percent of the water vapor in the earth atmosphere. Investigations of the formation of galaxies, and of stars and planetary systems are also described.
- Publication:
-
Physics Today
- Pub Date:
- April 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.881285
- Bibcode:
- 1991PhT....44d..32G
- Keywords:
-
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Infrared Astronomy Satellite;
- Space Infrared Telescope Facility;
- Cryogenic Temperature;
- Earth Atmosphere;
- Water Vapor;
- Astronomy