The Infrared Sky

Three major sources contribute to the far- infrared sky: our Solar System , our Galaxy , and our Universe . The above image, in representative colors, is a projection of the entire infrared sky created from years of observations by the robot spacecraft COBE . Our Solar System is evidenced most prominently by the S-shaped blue sash called zodiacal light , created by small pieces of rock and dust orbiting between the Sun and Jupiter . Our Galaxy is evidenced by the bright band of light that crossed the middle of the image, created mostly by dust that laces the disk of our Milky Way . Close inspection of the image reveals that the background is not completely dark, indicating that our Universe itself provides a diffuse glow , created by the dust left over from the star formation throughout the Universe .