Description: 红外天文学是观测红外光的天文学分支。与可见光观测相比，红外天文学对温度较低的天体更为敏感，也可以观测到红移较大的遥远星系。红外观测受星际消光的影响较小，因此可以看到深空的星际气体云和尘埃云。

地球大气层中的分子会吸收大量来自太空的红外光，因此地面上的红外天文观测主要是在吸收率较低的波长范围内进行。地球及其大气层都会辐射红外线，因此需要特殊的技术来消除这种本底辐射。对于波长较长的红外辐射，这种本底辐射加上大气吸收使得地面观测几乎不可能。因此，许多红外观测都是利用太空望远镜进行的。不过，对于波长最长的红外线，可以在非常干燥的地方进行地面观测。这通常被称为亚毫米波天文学。

Related Terms:

• 电磁辐射
• 红外线（IR）
• 红外望远镜
• 红移
• 星际消光
• 亚毫米波天文学

Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher
The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval

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