Infrared radiation is at the long wavelength end of the visible part of the spectrum, those wavelengths that we see with our eyes and those recorded by photographic film. Everyone is familiar with infrared because it is how most remote control devices work for TV's and VCR's. We cannot see the light because it is at a wavelength too long for our eyes. However, infrared astronomers can successfully study just about any object that optical astronomers can, from objects in the Solar System to all manner of stars to the most distant galaxies and quasars in the Universe. Another extremely important factor about infrared radiation is that it can penetrate dust.
Dust pervades much of space, around newly born stars and between stars.
In the optical, there are entire regions of space that are invisible, hidden behind huge clouds of dust. This is where the infrared and longer wavelengths come in. It is doing this by better maintaining the telescope at the nighttime temperature and by using special sensors and a rapidly adjustable mirror to counteract the current limiting factor of atmospheric turbulence that spoils the perfect image quality, even on Mauna Kea, the best site in the world. The JCMT is the world's largest submillimeter telescope. It lies just off the summit ridge of Mauna Kea, in what is called 'submillimeter valley'.