Abstract

"The fields of submillimeter and infrared astronomy are embryonic, in terms of their technical and scientific development, as compared with radio and optical astronomy." That statement would not be disputed by most astronomers for the case of submillimeter astronomy, since it was only five years ago that the first detection was reported of a submillimeter line. Infrared astronomy has a lengthier history, but has been handicapped by the lack of an equivalent detection tool to the optical photographic plate. Both fields have struggled into existence, in spite of the alternating effects of the earth's atmosphere, using equipment borrowed from other regimes. Indeed, the submillimeter line detection just mentioned was made with the Palomar 200" Hale telescope, as were many of the early submillimeter continuum measurements.

© 1982 AIAA