The reason we can't see infrared light coming from an object is primarily due to the limitations of human vision. Our eyes are only sensitive to a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, known as visible light. Visible light consists of wavelengths ranging from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers.
Infrared light, on the other hand, has longer wavelengths than visible light and falls outside the range of what our eyes can detect. Infrared radiation encompasses wavelengths ranging from about 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter. These longer wavelengths are not perceived by the photoreceptor cells in our eyes.
To visualize infrared light, specialized devices such as infrared cameras or thermal imaging systems are used. These devices can detect and convert infrared radiation into visible images or data that can be interpreted by humans. By utilizing detectors sensitive to infrared wavelengths, these instruments can make the invisible infrared light visible to us.
It's important to note that although we can't see infrared light naturally, we can still feel it as heat. Infrared radiation is associated with the thermal energy emitted by objects, and our skin can detect this heat sensation. This is why we can feel the warmth of sunlight or objects that are emitting infrared radiation, even though we can't see the light itself.