Infrared Applications:
- Night Vision: Infrared cameras and detectors are used for night vision when there is insufficient visible light.
- Thermography: Infrared radiation can be used to remotely determine the temperature of objects (if the emissivity is known). This is termed thermography, or in the case of very hot objects in the NIR or visible it is termed pyrometry.
- Photography: Infrared filters can be used with cameras to either block out IR light or to block visible light to enable an IR photo.
- Tracking: Missile guidance systems use then infrared signal emitted from hot objects to track them.
- Communication: An IR signal can be used to transmit data from one computer peripheral to another over a short range. Remote controls also use an IR signal to transmit data.
- Spectroscopy: Infrared spectroscopy can be used to identify molecules by analysis of their constitute bonds.
- Astronomy: Astronomers observe objects in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum using optical components, including mirrors, lenses and solid state digital detectors. For this reason it is classified as part of optical astronomy.