infrared telescope
Thermal light viewer
An infrared telescope detects infrared radiation—light with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves.
Because infrared passes through dust clouds that block visible light, these telescopes reveal otherwise hidden celestial objects: forming stars, distant galaxies, cool planets.
Many operate from space or high-altitude sites to avoid absorption by Earth's atmosphere.
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- heat signatureDetectable infrared emission pattern
- thermal imagingDetecting objects by warmth
- astronomyScience of celestial objects
space · Hubble · lens · mirror · spectrum · wavelength · radiation · galaxy · distant · light years · deep space · stars · star formation · observatory · night sky · cosmic · dust · nebula