Astronomy is conducted in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum for several reasons:
Penetration of Dust and Gas: Infrared light can penetrate dust clouds and gas more effectively than visible light. Interstellar dust and gas can obscure objects and phenomena in the visible spectrum, but they are more transparent in the infrared. By observing in the infrared, astronomers can study objects that would be otherwise hidden or obscured.
Thermal Emission: Many astronomical objects emit most of their radiation in the infrared due to their temperatures. Stars, galaxies, and other celestial bodies emit thermal radiation that peaks in the infrared region. By observing in the infrared, astronomers can study the heat radiation emitted by these objects, providing valuable insights into their composition, temperature, and other physical properties.
Cosmic Redshift: The expansion of the universe causes distant objects to exhibit a redshift, where their light is shifted towards longer wavelengths, including the infrared region. By observing in the infrared, astronomers can effectively study distant objects and galaxies, allowing them to probe the early universe and gain insights into its structure and evolution.
Exoplanet Detection: Infrared observations are crucial for studying exoplanets, planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. Infrared light allows astronomers to detect the thermal radiation emitted by exoplanets, which can provide information about their atmospheric composition, temperature, and potential signs of habitability.
Cool Objects: Objects that are relatively cool, such as brown dwarfs, stellar remnants like white dwarfs and neutron stars, and interstellar clouds, emit most of their radiation in the infrared. By observing in the infrared, astronomers can study these cool objects and explore their properties and behavior.
These are just a few reasons why astronomy is conducted extensively in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared observations provide unique and valuable information about a wide range of astronomical objects and phenomena that are not easily accessible in other parts of the spectrum.