List of largest infrared telescopes

List of largest infrared telescopes, by diameter of entrance aperture, oriented towards large observatories dedicated to infrared astronomy. Infrared has a number of challenges, especially for ground-based observatories but also in space. The near-infared is similar to optical telescopes, although the longer wavelength infrared can also be related to aspects of radio and microwave astronomy. A major implication of looking at longer wavelengths are that infrared telescopes have a lower diffraction limit all else being compared to a visible light telescope, because the wavelength of light they are looking is longer. Secondly, infrared is heat, so the telescopes can be much more sensitive to emission of heat.

Atmospheric windows in the infrared: much of this type of light is blocked when viewed from the Earth's surface.

Overall

Infrared observations from Earth's surface are possible in a limited way, but can be very dependent on location and atmospheric conditions. Water vapour blocks much of the infrared band in Earth's atmosphere, although some limited observations are possible and there is a number of infrared focused observatories, which often also view optical visible wavelengths. Sometimes other optical telescopes can make infrared observations if they are equipped with the right detectors, even if they are not dedicated infrared observatories. For ground based observatories the location can make a big difference how much observation his possible.

NameImageEffective
aperture
m (in)		Wavelength
Coverage		SiteYear(s)Refs
VISTA4.1 m (161″)0.85 – 2.3 μmParanal Obs., Chile2008[1]
UKIRT3.8 m (150″)Mauna Kea Obs., Hawaii1978
Herschel Obs.3.5 m (138″)60-672 μmSpace, Earth L22009-2013[2]
IRTF3 m (118″)Mauna Kea, Hawaii1979[3]
SOFIA2.5 m (98.4 in)747SP; Stratosphere2010[4][5]
Hubble Space Telescope2.4 m (94.5 inches)NIR onlySpace, Earth orbit]2009-2013
WIRO2.3 m (90.6 in)Jelm mountain, 9656 ft. (2943m)1977[6]

Space telescopes only
The mirror of this infrared space telescope is coated with Gold because of its ability to reflect infrared light. Optical telescopes typically have used aluminum or silver.
Infrared observations can see objects hidden in visible light, such as HUDF-JD2 shown.
NameEffective
aperture
cm (in)		Wavelength
Coverage		YearRefs
JWST650 cm0.6-28.5 μm2021 (planned)
Herschel Obs.350 cm (138″)60-672 μm2009[2]
Hubble WFC3240 cm0.2-1.7 μm2009
Spitzer85 cm3-180 μm2003[4]
Akari68.5 cm2-200 μm2006[4]
ISO60 cm2.5-240 μm1996[4]
IRAS57 cm5-100 μm1983[4]
NEOSM50 cm?Planned[7]
SWAS44–70 cm540 - 610 μm1998
WISE40 cm3-25 μm2010[4]
MSX33 cm4.3-21 μm1996
IRT15.2 cm1.7-118 μm1985[8]
Human Eye ~1 cm0.39-0.75 μm-

For comparison

See also

References
  1. Emerson, J.P., Sutherland, W.J., McPherson, A.M., Craig, S.C., Dalton, G.B., Ward, A.K. (2005). The Visible & Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy. The Messenger
  2. Amos, Jonathan (14 June 2009). "ESA launches Herschel and Planck space telescopes". BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  3. IRTF homepage
  4. JPL: Herschel Space Observatory: Related Missions
  5. Krabbe, Alfred (March 2007). "SOFIA telescope". Proceedings of SPIE: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation. Munich, Germany: SPIE — The International Society for Optical Engineering. pp. 276–281. arXiv:astro-ph/0004253. Bibcode:2000SPIE.4014..276K. doi:10.1117/12.389103.
  6. University of Wyoming 2.3-meter Telescope (WIRO)
  8. Kent, et al. – Galactic structure from the Spacelab infrared telescope (1992).
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