Far-infrared astronomy

[1] In the far-infrared, stars are not especially bright, but emission from very cold matter (140 Kelvin or less) can be observed that is not seen at shorter wavelengths.

This is due to thermal radiation of interstellar dust contained in molecular clouds.

[2] These emissions are from dust in circumstellar envelopes around numerous old red giant stars.

[2] On 22 January 2014, European Space Agency scientists reported the detection, for the first definitive time, of water vapor on the dwarf planet, Ceres, largest object in the asteroid belt.

[4] The finding is unexpected because comets, not asteroids, are typically considered to "sprout jets and plumes".