Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

History of infrared telescopes and astronomy

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Experimental Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The first attempts to measure the infrared outputs of stars preceded by nearly a century the permanent establishment of infrared astronomy as an important aspect of the field. There were a number of false starts in that century, significant efforts that had little impact on the astronomical community at large. Why did these efforts fizzle out? What was different in the start that did not fizzle, in the 1960s? I suggest that the most important advances were the success of radio astronomy in demonstrating interesting phenomena outside of the optical regime, and the establishment virtually simultaneously in the United States of a number of research groups that could support each other and compete against one another in their approach to infrared astronomy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abbott, C.G.: Energy spectra of the stars. ApJ 69, 293 (1929)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arens, J.F., Lamb, G.M., Peck, M.C., Moseley, H., Hoffmann, W.F., Tresch-Fienberg, R., Fazio, G.G.: High spatial resolution observations of NGC 7027 with a 10 micron array camera. ApJ 279, 685 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aumann, H.H., Gillespie, C.M., Low, F.J.: The internal powers and effective temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn. ApJL 157, L69 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Becklin, E.E., Neugebauer, G.: Observations of an infrared star in the Orion nebula. ApJ 147, 799 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Becklin, E.E., Neugebauer, G.: Infrared observations of the galactic center. ApJ 151, 145 (1968)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Boys, C.V.: On the heat of the moon and stars. Proc. R. Soc. 47, 480 (1890)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Brouwer, D., Smith, H.J.: Publication of papers in radio astronomy. AJ 64, 36 (1959)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Coblentz, W.W.: Note on the radiation from stars. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 26, 169 (1914)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Coblentz, W.W.: A Comparison of Stellar Radiometers and Radiometric Measurements on 110 Stars. Government Printing Office, Washington (1915)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Coblentz, W.W.: Report on instruments and methods of radiometry. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 5, 259 (1921)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Coblentz, W.W.: The measurement of solar, sky, nocturnal, and stellar radiation. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 5, 269 (1921)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Coblentz, W.W.: A portable vacuum thermopile. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 5, 356 (1921)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Coblentz, W.W.: New measurements of stellar radiation. ApJ 55, 20 (1922)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Coblentz, W.W.: The effective temperature of 16 stars as estimated from the energy distribution in the complete spectrum. Proc. Natl. Acad. U. S. A. 8, 49 (1922)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Connes, P., Connes, J., Bouigue, R., Querci, M., Chauville, J., Querci, F.: Sur les spectres à étoiles rouges M et C entre 4000 et 9000 cm − 1 (2,5 et 1,1 μ). I. Description génélrale. ANAP 31, 485 (1968)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Connes, P.: Early history of Fourier transform spectroscopy. IR Phys. 24, 69 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dolci, W.W.: Milestones in Airborne Astronomy: From the 1920’s to the Present. Am. Inst. Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, Virginia (1997)

  18. Eddy, J.A.: Thomas A. Edison and infrared-red astronomy. J. Hist. Astron. 3, 165 (1972)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Elliot, J.L.: The rings of Uranus. Nature 267, 328 (1977)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Emberson, R.M.: Radiometric magnitudes of some of the brightest stars. ApJ 94, 427 (1941)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fellgett, P.B.: An exploration of infrared stellar magnitudes using the photo-conductivity of lead sulphide. MNRAS 111, 537 (1951)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Forrest, W.J., Moneti, A., Woodward, C.E., Pipher, J.L., Hoffman, A.: The new near infrared rray camera at the University of Rochester. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 97, 183 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Gardner, J.P. et al.: The James Webb space telescope. Sp. Sci. Rev. 123, 485 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gehrz, R.D., Hackwell, J.A.: Exploring the infrared universe from Wyoming. Sky Telesc. 55, 466 (1978)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gehrz, R.D., et al.: The NASA Spitzer space telescope. Rev. Sci. Inst. 78, 011032 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gehrz, R.D., Becklin, E.E.: The stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA). Proc. SPIE 7012, 61 (2008)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Genzel, R., Cesarsky, C.J.: Extragalactic results from the infrared space observatory. ARAA 38, 761 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hale, G.E.: Heat radiation of the stars. ApJ 9, 360 (1899)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hall, D.N.B., Aikens, R.S., Joyce, R., McCurnin, T.W.: Johnson noise limited operation of photovoltaic InSb detectors. Appl. Opt. 14, 450 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Harwit, M.W.: Cosmic Discovery. Basic Books, New York (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hoffmann, W.F., Frederick, C.L.: Far-infrared observation of the galactic-center region at 100 microns. ApJL 155, L9 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hoffmann, W.F., Frederick, C.L., Emery, R.J.: Far-infrared observation of the galactic-center region at 100 microns. ApJL 170, L89 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Houck, J.R., Soifer, B.T., Pipher, J.L., Harwit, M.: Rocket-infrared four-color photometry of the galaxy’s central regions. ApJL 169, 31 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Huggins, W.: Note on the heat of the stars. Proc. Royal Soc. 17, 309 (1869)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Huggins, W.: Heat of the stars. Astron. Regist. 16, 309 (1878)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Jarrell, R.: Radio astronomy, whatever that may be. In: Orchiston, W. (ed.) The Marginalization of Early Radio Astronomy. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol. 334. Springer, Dordrecht (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Jennings, R.E.: History of British infrared astronomy since the second world war. QJRAS 27, 454 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Johnson, H.L.: Infrared stellar photometry. ApJ 135, 69 (1962)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Johnson, H.L.: Astronomical measurements in the infrared. ARAA 4, 193 (1966)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kessler, M.: The infrared space observatory (ISO) mission. Adv. Space Res. 30, 1957 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kleinmann, D.E., Low, F.J.: Observations of infrared galaxies. ApJL 159, L165 (1970)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Kuiper, G.P.: The magnitude of the sun, the stellar temperature scale, and bolometric corrections. ApJ 88, 429 (1938)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kuiper, G.P., Wilson, W., Cashman, R.J.: An infrared stellar spectrometer. ApJ 106, 243 (1947)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Low, F.J.: Low-temperature germanium bolometer. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 51, 1300 (1961)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Low, F.J., Johnson, H.L.: Stellar photometry at 10 microns. ApJ 139, 1130 (1964)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Low, F.J., Johnson, H.L.: The spectrum of 3C273. ApJL 141, L336 (1965)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Low, F.J., Kleinmann, D.E.: Infrared observations of seyfert galaxies, quasistellar sources, and planetary nebulae. AJ 73, 868 (1968)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Low, F.J., Aumann, H.H.: Observations of galactic and extragalactic sources between 50 and 300 microns. ApJL 162, 79 (1970)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Low, F.J., Rieke, G.H.: The instrumentation and techniques of infrared photometry. In: Carleton, N. (ed.) Methods of Experimental Physics, vol. 12, part A. Academic Press, New York and London (1974)

  50. Low, F.J., Rieke, G.H., Gehrz, R.D.: The beginning of modern infrared astronomy. ARAA 45, 43 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Lunel, M.: Recherches de photométrie stellaire dans l’infra-rouge au moyen d’une cellule au sulfure de plomb. Ann. D’Astrophysique. 23, 1 (1960)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Macleod, H.A.: Thin-Film Optical Filters, 3rd edn. Bristol, Philadelphia (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Maas, R.W., Ney, E.P., Woolf, N.J.: The 10-micron emission peak of comet Bennett 1969I. ApJL 160, L101 (1970)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Mainzer, A.K., et al.: Preliminary design of the wide-field infrared survey explorer (WISE). Proc. SPIE 5899, 262 (2005)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Matsumoto, T.: Large-aperture cooled telescope (SPICA) for mid- and far-infrared astronomy. Proc. SPIE 5487, 1501 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. Montgomery, E.F., Connes, P., Connes, J., Edmonds, F.N.: The infrared spectrum of Arcturus. ApJ 19, 1 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Moroz, V.I.: The radiation flux from the Crab Nebula at 2 microns and some conclusions on the spectrum and magnetic field. Astron. Z. 37, 265 (1960)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. Moroz, V.I.: An attempt to observe the infrared radiation of the galactic nucleus. Astron. Z. 38, 487 (1961)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  59. Moroz, V.I.: Radiation emission from the Orion Nebula in the 0.85–1.7 micron wavelength region. Astron. Z. 40, 788 (1963)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Moroz, V.I.: Infrared observations of the Crab Nebula. Astron. Ah. 40, 982 (1963)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. Nakagawa, T., Murakami, H.: Mid- and far-infrared astronomy mission SPICA. Adv. Space Res. 40, 679 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Neugebauer, G., Leighton, R.B.: Two-micron sky survey. A preliminary catalogue. NASA Spec. Pub. 3047 (1969)

  63. Neugebauer, G., et al.: The infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) mission. ApJL 278, L1 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  64. Nichols, E.F.: On the heat radiation of Arcturus, Vega, Jupiter, and Saturn. ApJ 13, 101 (1901)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. Oke, J.B., Neugebauer, G., Becklin, E.E.: Absolute spectral energy distribution of quasi- stellar objects from 0.3 to 2.2 microns. ApJ 159, 341 (1970)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  66. Pascale, E. et al.: The Balloon-borne large aperture submillimeter telescope: BLAST. ApJ 681, 400 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. Pettit, E., Nicholson, S.B.: Application of vacuum thermocouples to problems in astrophysics. ApJ 56, 295 (1922)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  68. Pettit, E., Nicholson, S.B.: Stellar radiation measurements. ApJ 68, 279 (1928)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  69. Pettit, E., Nicholson, S.B.: Measurements of the radiation from variable stars. ApJ 78, 320 (1933)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  70. Pickering, E.C.: Revised Harvard photometry. Harvard Annals 50, 1 (1908)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  71. Pilbratt, G.: Herschel mission: status and observing opportunities. SPIE 5487, 401 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  72. Price, S.D.: The infrared sky: a survey of surveys. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 100, 171 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  73. Publ. Astron. Soc. Jpn. (Akari Special Issue) 59, SP2 (2007)

  74. Ranyard, A.C.: Edison’s tasimeter. Astron. Regist. 16, 309 (1878)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  75. Rieke, G.H., Low, F.J.: Infrared photometry of extragalactic sources. ApJL 176, L95 (1972)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. Rieke, G.H.: The Last of the Great Observatories. University of Arizona, Tucson (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  77. Rieke, G.H.: Infrared detector arrays for astronomy. ARAA 45, 77 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  78. Rieke, M.J., Rieke, G.H., Montgomery, E.F.: Rockwell HgCdTe arrays as imagers. In: Wynn-Williams, C.G., Becklin, E.E. (eds.) Infrared Astronomy with Arrays, p. 213. University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (1987)

  79. Rosse, E.O: On the radiation of heat from the moon, the law of its absorption by our atmosphere, and its variation in amount with her phases. Proc. R. Soc. 21, 241 (1873)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Rust, C.F.: Spectral types and radiometric observations of stars with large infrared index. ApJ 88, 525 (1938)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. Schilz, J.: Thermoelectric Infrared Sensors (Thermopiles) for Remote Temperature Measurements. Perkin Elmer Optoelectronics GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  82. Sinton, W.M.: Through the infrared with logbook and lantern slides: a history of infrared astronomy from 1868 to 1960. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 98, 246 (1986)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  83. Soifer, B.T., Helou, G., Werner, M.W.: The Spitzer view of the extragalactic universe. ARAA 46, 201 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  84. Stein, W.A., Gillett, F.C.: Spectral distribution of infrared radiation from the trapezium region of the Orion Nebula. ApJL 155, L197 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  85. Stone, E.F.: Approximate determinations of the heating-powers of Arcturus and Alpha Lyrae. Proc. R. Soc. 18, 159 (1870)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  86. Storey, J.W.V.: Infrared astronomy: in the heat of the night. Publ. Astron. Soc. Aust 17, 270 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  87. Tucker, W., Giacconi, R.: The X-ray Universe. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  88. Werner, M.W., Fazio, G.G., Rieke, G.H., Roellig, T.L., Watson, D.M.: First fruits of the Spitzer space telescope: galactic and solar system studies. ARAA 44, 269 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  89. Whitford, A.E.: An extension of the interstellar absorption-curve. ApJ 107, 102 (1948)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  90. Whitford, A.E.: The law of interstellar reddening. AJ 63, 201 (1958)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  91. Wildey, R.L., Murray, B.C.: Stellar photometry from B8 to M7 in the 8–14 micron window. AJ 68, 300 (1963)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  92. Woolf, N.J., Ney, E.P.: Circumstellar infrared emission from cool stars. ApJL 155, L181 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  93. Woolf, N.J., Schwarzschild, M., Rose, W.K.: Infrared spectra of red-giant stars. ApJ 140, 833 (1964)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  94. Wright, E.L., Fazio, G.G., Low, F.J.: A high-resolution far-infrared survey of the W31 region. ApJ 217, 724 (1977)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Preparation of this article was partially supported by contract 1255094 from Caltech/JPL and by contract NAG5-12318 from NASA/Goddard, both to the University of Arizona.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    G. H. Rieke

Authors
  1. G. H. Rieke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. H. Rieke.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rieke, G.H. History of infrared telescopes and astronomy. Exp Astron 25, 125–141 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-009-9148-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-009-9148-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation