Infrared telescopes

Telescope Name	Location	Frequency Range	Number of Antennas	Key Scientific Objectives	Notable Features
JWST (James Webb Space Telescope)	Space (L2 orbit)	0.6–28 microns	Space telescope with segmented mirror	Galaxy formation, exoplanet atmospheres, star formation	Highly sensitive, large primary mirror; superior resolution and sensitivity for infrared
Spitzer Space Telescope	Space (NASA mission, decommissioned in 2020)	3–160 microns	Space telescope with cryogenic cooling	Exoplanet atmospheres, star formation, galaxy evolution	Major infrared survey telescope; contributed to exoplanet and galaxy studies
WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer)	Space (NASA mission)	3.4–22 microns	Space telescope with cryogenic cooling	Asteroid detection, star formation, distant galaxies	All-sky survey in infrared, detected brown dwarfs and distant galaxies
SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy)	Airborne (NASA and DLR)	0.3–1600 microns	Modified Boeing 747 with a 2.7m telescope	Star formation, molecular clouds, planetary atmospheres	Airborne, can fly above most of the atmosphere for clearer infrared observations
AKARI	Space (JAXA mission)	1.7–180 microns	Space telescope with cryogenic cooling	Galaxy evolution, star formation, interstellar medium	Performed an all-sky infrared survey; focused on star-forming regions and interstellar clouds
IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite)	Space (NASA, UK, Netherlands mission, decommissioned)	8–120 microns	Space telescope with cryogenic cooling	Star formation, circumstellar disks, galaxy evolution	First all-sky infrared survey; identified thousands of infrared sources
Herschel Space Observatory	Space (ESA mission, decommissioned in 2013)	55–672 microns	Space telescope with cryogenic cooling	Star formation, molecular clouds, galaxy formation	Largest infrared telescope in space; detailed observations of star-forming regions
UKIRT (United Kingdom Infrared Telescope)	Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA	1–5 microns	Ground-based infrared telescope	Star formation, planetary studies, infrared surveys	Near-infrared telescope with wide-field survey capabilities, located at high altitude
Gemini South (Infrared capabilities)	Cerro Pachón, Chile	1–28 microns	Ground-based telescope with infrared instruments	Exoplanets, star formation, Galactic center	Advanced adaptive optics, part of the twin Gemini Observatories
IRTF (NASA Infrared Telescope Facility)	Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA	1–25 microns	Ground-based telescope	Planetary atmospheres, star formation, interstellar medium	Primarily supports solar system research, especially infrared studies of planets