Friday, February 1, 2008

What is Infrared astronomy?

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Infrared astronomy? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Infrared astronomy.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Infrared astronomy is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Infrared astronomy.

Astronomy is one of the most unique branches of scientific studies that deals with the atmosphere and movement of celestial objects in outer space. It is one of the oldest science invented by the scientists and also one of the most interesting. Observing stars, planets and galaxies in the solar system, calculating size and distance of sun and moon from the earth, calculating the time of solar ans lunar eclipse are some of the most important part of astronomy. With the advancement of science and technology, scientists came to know a lot of things about the outer space and the celestial objects.


Slowly scientists came to know that celestial objects emit electromagnetic radiations with the help of radio astronomy. Similarly, infrared astronomy proved that all objects in the universe emit infrared radiation.

Though it dates back to more than two centuries, infrared astronomy is one of the modern wings of astronomy. Infrared astronomy was invented in the year 1800, when a scientist named William Herschel discovered that red and yellow were the hottest part of the band of light that was observed through the prism and also found that the two 'heat rays' were displaying some spectral lines. Later in the year 1856, infrared radiations were also detected in moon light by Charles Piazzi Smyth.

Basically infrared astronomy deals with study and detection of infrared radiation or heat energy that was emitted from all objects. Infrared detectors are used for detecting radiations of wavelengths of about 1 and 300 microns. With the invention of infrared astronomy, detecting and studying objects hidden by gas and dust has become possible for scientists, because infrared radiations with longer wavelength than visible light can easily pass through regions that are covered by dust and gas. With the help of infrared radiation, scientist are now able to study objects hidden in regions like the center of galaxy and newly forming stars.

As things like lenses, mirrors and solid state digital detectors are used, infrared astronomy is considered as a part of optical astronomy and astrophysics by scientists.

Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive you'll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above on infrared astronomy.

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