Except at wavelengths close to visible light, infrared radiation is heavily absorbed by the atmosphere, and the atmosphere produces significant infrared emission.

• 红外天文涉及检测与分析的红外辐射（波长长于红光）。除波长接近可见光，红外辐射在很大程度上吸收了大气中，与大气层产生重大的红外辐射。