Editing Infrared astronomy (section)

== Observatories ==

=== Space observatories ===

Many space telescopes detect electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range that overlaps at least to some degree with the infrared wavelength range.  Therefore it is difficult to define which space telescopes are infrared telescopes.  Here the definition of "infrared space telescope" is taken to be a space telescope whose main mission is detecting infrared light.

Eight infrared space telescopes have been operated in space. They are:

* [[Infrared Astronomical Satellite]] (IRAS), operated 1983 (10 months). A joint mission of US ([[NASA]]), UK and the Netherlands.
* [[Infrared Space Observatory]] (ISO), operated 1995-1998, [[ESA]] mission.
* [[Midcourse Space Experiment]] (MSX), operated 1996-1997, [[Ballistic Missile Defense Organization|BMDO]] mission.
* [[Spitzer Space Telescope]], operated 2003-2020, [[NASA]] mission.
* [[Akari (satellite)|Akari]], operated 2006-2011, [[JAXA]] mission.
* [[Herschel Space Observatory]], operated 2009-2013, [[ESA]] mission.
* [[Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer]] (WISE), operated 2009-2024, [[NASA]] mission.
* [[James Webb Space Telescope]] (JWST), operated 2022-, [[NASA]] mission.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Strickland |first=Ashley |date=11 July 2022 |title=President Biden reveals the James Webb Space Telescope's stunning first image |website=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/world/james-webb-space-telescope-first-image-scn/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712040743/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/world/james-webb-space-telescope-first-image-scn/index.html |archive-date=2022-07-12}}</ref>
* [[Euclid (spacecraft)|Euclid]] telescope, operated 2023-, [[ESA]] mission.
* [[SPHEREx]] telescope, operated 2025-, NASA mission.<ref name="nasa-20220803">{{cite web |last=Interrante |first=Abbey |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/punch/2022/08/03/punch-announces-rideshare-with-spherex-and-new-launch-date/ |title=PUNCH Announces Rideshare with SPHEREx and New Launch Date |date=3 August 2022 |access-date=3 August 2022 |work=[[NASA]]}}</ref>

NASA is also planning to launch the [[Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope]] (NGRST), originally known as the Wide Field InfraRed Space Telescope (WFIRST), in 2027.<ref name="nasa-20220719">{{cite press release |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-roman-space-telescope |title=NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Roman Space Telescope |work=[[NASA]] |date=19 July 2022 |access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref>

Many other smaller space-missions and space-based detectors of infrared radiation have been operated in space. These include the [[STS-51-F|Infrared Telescope]] (IRT) that flew with the [[Space Shuttle]].

The [[Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite]] (SWAS) is sometimes mentioned as an infrared satellite, although it is a submillimeter satellite.

==== Infrared instruments on space telescopes ====

For many space telescopes, only some of the instruments are capable of infrared observation.  Below are listed some of the most notable of these space observatories and instruments:

* [[Cosmic Background Explorer]] (COBE) satellite (1989-1993) [[Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment]] (DIRBE) instrument
* [[Hubble Space Telescope]] (1990-) [[Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer]] (NICMOS) instrument (1997-1999, 2002-2008)
* Hubble Space Telescope [[Wide Field Camera 3]] (WFC3) camera (2009-) observes infrared.

=== Airborne Observatories ===

Three airplane-based observatories have been used (other aircraft have also been used occasionally to host infrared space studies) to study the sky in infrared. They are:

* [[Kuiper Airborne Observatory|Galileo Observatory]], a [[NASA]] mission. Was active 1965-1973.
* [[Kuiper Airborne Observatory]], a [[NASA]] mission. Was active 1974-1995.
* [[SOFIA]], a [[NASA]]-[[German Aerospace Center|DLR]] mission. Was active 2010-2022.

=== Ground-based observatories ===

Many ground-based infrared telescopes exist around the world. The largest are:

* [[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]]
* [[United Kingdom Infrared Telescope|UKIRT]]
* [[NASA Infrared Telescope Facility|IRTF]]
* [[Wyoming Infrared Observatory|WIRO]]