William Herschel

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Every object with a temperature above absolute zero radiates in the infrared.

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Infrared in Society

Oceanography

Firefighting

Commercial Applications

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Infrared Astronomy: Detecting “Cool Objects”

Finding “brown dwarfs” helps us measure the mass of the universe.

Debris disks – signs of other solar systems?

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Infrared Astronomy: Viewing the “Invisible”

Dust absorbs visible light and re-emits it in the infrared.

Some galaxies emit most of their light in the infrared.

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Infrared Astronomy: Exploring the Early Universe

Visible light from very distant objects is shifted to the infrared.

Just as the pitch of a train whistle changes as it passes an observer, the observed wavelength of light emitted by a moving object also shifts.

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Why a Telescope in Space?

Infrared light is mostly absorbed by our atmosphere.

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For More Information…

Michelle Thaller

thaller@ipac.caltech.edu

SIRTF Science Center,

California Institute of Technology

sirtf.caltech.edu

Space Science Education

Resource Directory

Teachspacescience.org

Origins Education Forum

Origins.stsci.edu

Click on “Educator Resources”,

and then select “Curriculum Support”

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What is Infrared?

Remote controls use infrared light.

Our eyes see only part of the electromagnetic spectrum…

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Planning Checklist

Materials:

Glass prism

Three alcohol thermometers

Flat black paint or a permanent black marker

Scissors or a prism stand

Cardboard box

Blank sheet of white paper

Tape

Binders, books, or blocks

Observation chart

Pencils or pens

Preparation:

Acquire materials

Blacken thermometer bulbs

Cut out notch in box for prism

Identify location and time for experiment

Try experiment

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Visit Our Web-Site for More!

Much more available at sirtf.caltech.edu. Click on the “Education” button.