Summary
The largest infrared telescopes for infrared astronomy are listed in terms of diameter of primary mirror. The infrared spectrum with its longer wavelength than visible light has a number of challenges, especially for ground-based observatories but also in space. Notably infrared radiation is emitted by all physical objects above Absolute Zero temperature so telescopes are subject to local interference.
Overall edit
Infrared observations from Earth's surface are possible in a limited way but can be very dependent on location and atmospheric conditions. Water vapour in the Earth's atmosphere blocks much of the infrared band, although some limited observations are possible and there is a number of infrared observatories.
Sometimes other optical telescopes can make infrared observations if they are equipped with the right detectors, even if they are not dedicated infrared observatories. For ground-based observatories, the location can make a big difference in how much observation is possible.
| Name | Image | Effective aperture m (in) |
Wavelength Coverage |
Site | Year(s) | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Webb Space Telescope |  |
6.5 m (256 in) | 0.6-28.5 µm | Space, Sun-Earth L2 | 2022- | |
| VISTA |  |
4.1 m (161 in) | 0.85 – 2.3 μm | Paranal Obs., Chile | 2008 | [1] |
| United Kingdom Infrared Telescope |  |
3.8 m (150 in) | 0.8 - 20 μm | Mauna Kea Obs., Hawaii | 1978 | |
| Herschel Space Observatory |  |
3.5 m (138 in) | 60-672 μm | Space, Sun-Earth L2 | 2009-2013 | [2] |
| Infrared Telescope Facility |  |
3 m (118 in) | 0.8 - 25 μm | Mauna Kea, Hawaii | 1979 | [3] |
| SOFIA |  |
2.5 m (98.4 in) | 0.3 - 655 μm | 747SP; Stratosphere | 2010-2022 | [4][5][6] |
| Hubble Space Telescope |  |
2.4 m (94.5 in) | < 1.7 μm | Space, Earth orbit | 2009-2013 | [7] |
| Wyoming Infrared Observatory |  |
2.3 m (90.6 in) | 0.4 - 0.8 μm | Jelm mountain, 9656 ft. (2943m) | 1977 | [8] |
Space telescopes only edit
| Name | Effective aperture cm (in) |
Wavelength Coverage |
Year | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Webb (JWST) | 650 cm | 0.6-28.5 µm | 2021- | |
| Herschel Obs. | 350 cm (138″) | 60-672 μm | 2009 - 2013 | [2] |
| Hubble WFC3 | 240 cm | 0.2-1.7 μm | 2009 - | |
| Euclid NISP | 120 cm | 0.92-2.02 μm | 2023 - | |
| Spitzer | 85 cm | 3-180 μm | 2003 - 2020 | [4] |
| Akari | 68.5 cm | 2-200 μm | 2006 -2011 | [4] |
| ISO | 60 cm | 2.5-240 μm | 1995-1998 | [4] |
| IRAS | 57 cm | 5-100 μm | 1983 | [4] |
| NEO Surveyor | 50 cm | 4–5.2 & 6–10 µm | 2028 (planned) | [9] |
| WISE/NEOWISE | 40 cm | 3-25 μm | 2009-2011 & 2013 - | [4] |
| MSX | 33 cm | 4.3-21 μm | 1996 - 1997 | |
| Spacelab IRT | 15.2 cm | 1.7-118 μm | 1985 Aug | [10] |
| Human Eye † | ~1 cm | 0.39-0.75 μm | - |
† For comparison
See also edit
- Lists of telescopes
- Infrared telescope
- List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
- Space Flyer Unit
- Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (all-sky infrared observation on COBE, launched 1989)
References edit
- ^ Emerson, J.P., Sutherland, W.J., McPherson, A.M., Craig, S.C., Dalton, G.B., Ward, A.K. (2005). The Visible & Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy. The Messenger
- ^ a b Amos, Jonathan (14 June 2009). "ESA launches Herschel and Planck space telescopes". BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ IRTF homepage
- ^ a b c d e f JPL: Herschel Space Observatory: Related Missions
- ^ Krabbe, Alfred (March 2007). "SOFIA telescope". Proceedings of SPIE: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation. Munich, Germany: SPIE — The International Society for Optical Engineering. pp. 276–281. arXiv:astro-ph/0004253. Bibcode:2000SPIE.4014..276K. doi:10.1117/12.389103.
- ^ Skibba, Ramin (30 September 2022). "Sofia, the Historic Airplane-Borne Telescope, Lands for the Last Time". Wired. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Wide Field Camera 3 Instrument Handbook for Cycle 23" (PDF). Space Telescope Science Institute. January 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ University of Wyoming 2.3-meter Telescope (WIRO)
- ^ NASA to Build New Asteroid-Hunting Space Telescope 2019
- ^ Kent, et al. – Galactic structure from the Spacelab infrared telescope (1992).
