At the focus of the Anglo-Australian Telescope it shows the infrared radiation from distant stars, nebulae and galaxies. The detector was manufactured by the Rockwell Science Center in California, and because of its advanced technology, export of these detectors is strictly controlled. Although the infrared sensor is central to the working of IRIS, a complex and sophisticated instrument has been built around it. It allows the astronomer close control of the observations, such as the colour of filter used and the field of view covered. IRIS can also take spectra of the stars and galaxies being observed, which will improve our understanding of their physical and chemical state.
Celestial objects look very different in the infrared.
In visible light, clouds of dust grains are often so dark that they obscure what lies behind them, like smoke from a chimney. These dust clouds become transparent to infrared radiation, and allow scientists to view objects that are otherwise hidden. Often this dust is warmed by nearby stars so that it gives off heat, and actually appears bright to the infrared detector. Objects can also take on a different appearance because of their particular chemical compositions. For example, IRIS sees the planet Jupiter very differently to optical sensors because regions of methane gas in its atmosphere absorb the infrared radiation.