Far-infrared astronomy is the branch ofastronomy andastrophysics that deals with objects visible infar-infrared radiation (extending from 30μm towardssubmillimeter wavelengths around 450 μm).[1]
In the far-infrared, stars are not especially bright, but emission from very cold matter (140 Kelvin or less) can be observed that is not seen at shorter wavelengths. This is due tothermal radiation ofinterstellar dust contained inmolecular clouds.[2]
These emissions are from dust incircumstellar envelopes around numerous oldred giant stars. TheBolocam Galactic Plane Survey mapped the galaxy for the first time in the far-infrared.[2]
On 22 January 2014,European Space Agency scientists reported the detection, for the first definitive time, ofwater vapor on thedwarf planet,Ceres, largest object in theasteroid belt.[3] The detection was made by using the far-infrared abilities of theHerschel Space Observatory.[4] The finding is unexpected becausecomets, notasteroids, are typically considered to "sprout jets and plumes". According to one of the scientists, "The lines are becoming more and more blurred between comets and asteroids."[4]
The Earth's atmosphere is opaque over most of the far-infrared, so most far-infrared astronomy is performed by satellites such as theHerschel Space Observatory,[5]Spitzer Space Telescope,IRAS, andInfrared Space Observatory. Upper-atmosphere observations are also possible, as conducted by the airborneSOFIA telescope.
Ground-based observations are limited to submillimetre wavelengths using high-altitude telescopes such as theJames Clerk Maxwell Telescope, theCaltech Submillimeter Observatory, theHigh Elevation Antarctic Terahertz Telescope and theSubmillimeter Array.
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