The Astrology of Space - Matrix Software

The Astrology of Space
Infrared Points
Infrared radiation is below the visible spectrum (longer
wavelengths), but above the radio portion of the
spectrum. Infrared is considered to occur between
wavelengths of 1 micron and 1 millimeter. Absorption
by gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and
ozone prevent us from ground-based study of infrared
(IF) except through a few "windows."
Our body and the entire world radiate at IF
wavelengths and the problem facing infrared
astronomers has been described as "comparable to
that of an optical astronomer working in a lighted
dome with a luminescent telescope." The objects of
infrared study are cool, dim, and in general this
means either stars that are dying (cooling off) or those
stars that are just now forming and have not begun to
radiate at visible frequencies: proto-stars.
Only a small fraction of the 6000-odd stars visible to
the naked eye are prominent at IF wavelengths and
an entire new set of constellations appear. Infrared
radiation has been detected from the sun, moon, and
several planets, in particular, Jupiter. Beyond the
solar system, IF radiation has been associated with a
great many red-faint stars, planetary nebulae, the
galactic center, and other galaxies, in particular, the
Seyfert galaxies.
The most interesting IF research involves attempts to
discover the very young proto-stars in the vast dust
complexes that are known to be the birth places of
stellar bodies. The great Orion Nebula has received
much attention, and astronomers believe stars are
condensing and forming in these dark clouds at the
present time. Infrared astronomy is quite young at the
present time.
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