Astrophysics

Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)

Pointed Observatory · Competed · Agency-led · Launched on January 26, 1983 · Completed · LCC: $199M/$816M (2025 $)Life-cycle cost: NASA’s reported cost to build, launch, and operate a mission through its prime mission, plus documented partner contributions, in 2025 dollars. Extended missions are not included. Methods · Wikipedia

Scope Active Mission WindowActivePapers published from the first full month after science operations begin through two years after the mission ends. Citations are counted through the third calendar year after each paper appears. For IRAS, papers published March 1, 1983 to December 1, 1985. Methods LifetimeLifetimeEvery tracked publication to date, with every citation to date. For IRAS, papers published from 1983 to November 3, 2026. Methods
Tracked publicationsTracked publications: peer-reviewed papers we found that name the mission or its instruments in their titles, abstracts, or keywords. Papers that used the data without naming it are missed. Methods371
CitationsCitations: every citation these publications have drawn to date. Older missions have had longer to collect them. Methods20,981
Citation indices
h-indexh-index: the largest h such that h papers have at least h citations each. It only grows with time, so older missions score higher. Methods70
g-indexg-index: the largest g for which the g most-cited papers together hold at least g² citations. Like the h-index, but it lets the most-cited papers count for more. Methods134
m-indexm-index: a mission’s h-index divided by the years since its first peer-reviewed paper. It falls every 1 January even when nothing else changes; the figure shown is as of November 3, 2026. It also discounts the long operating life that larger missions paid for. Methods1.6
toritori (total research impact, from SciX): for every paper citing one of the mission’s papers, 1 divided by the citing paper’s reference count times the cited paper’s author count, summed, with self-citations removed. It favors citations from papers with short reference lists and from outside the mission’s own authors. Computed over the tracked citation graph, which can be slightly incomplete. Always over every tracked publication to date, whichever scope is chosen. Methods153
riqriq (research impact quotient): 1,000 times the square root of tori, divided by the years since the mission’s first paper. A rate, not a total, so it does not keep growing with age the way the h-index and tori do. Like tori, always over every tracked publication to date. Methods281

Publications and citations by year (lifetime)

Publications per yearCumulative citations

Institutional contributions (lifetime)The institutions SciX lists for each paper’s authors, as printed on the paper, located through the Research Organization Registry. A square counts a paper once, however many of its authors worked there. Methods

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Tracked publications over the lifetime (371)

All publications CSV · JSON

  1. The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) Mission.

    Neugebauer, G., 1984, ApJ

    1,178 lifetime citations

  2. Dust Absorption and the Ultraviolet Luminosity Density at z ~ 3 as Calibrated by Local Starburst Galaxies

    Meurer, Gerhardt R., 1999, ApJ

    1,099 lifetime citations

  3. Preliminary Results from NEOWISE: An Enhancement to the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer for Solar System Science

    Mainzer, A., 2011, ApJ

    931 lifetime citations

  4. The Infrared Spectral Energy Distribution of Normal Star-forming Galaxies: Calibration at Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Wavelengths

    Dale, Daniel A., 2002, ApJ

    820 lifetime citations

  5. BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey. V. X-Ray Properties of the Swift/BAT 70-month AGN Catalog

    Ricci, C., 2017, ApJS

    656 lifetime citations

  6. Cometary Origin of the Zodiacal Cloud and Carbonaceous Micrometeorites. Implications for Hot Debris Disks

    Nesvorný, David, 2010, ApJ

    461 lifetime citations

  7. IRIS: A New Generation of IRAS Maps

    Miville-Deschênes, Marc-Antoine, 2005, ApJS

    460 lifetime citations

  8. A Redshift Survey of IRAS Galaxies. VII. The Infrared and Redshift Data for the 1.936 Jansky Sample

    Strauss, Michael A., 1992, ApJS

    429 lifetime citations

  9. The density field of the local Universe

    Saunders, Will, 1991, Natur

    363 lifetime citations

  10. The IRAS 1.2 Jy Survey: Redshift Data

    Fisher, Karl B., 1995, ApJS

    338 lifetime citations

  11. Infrared Seyferts: a new population of active galaxies?

    de Grijp, M. H. K., 1985, Natur

    273 lifetime citations

  12. Identifying the Low-Luminosity Population of Embedded Protostars in the c2d Observations of Clouds and Cores

    Dunham, Michael M., 2008, ApJS

    271 lifetime citations

  13. A circumsolar ring of asteroidal dust in resonant lock with the Earth

    Dermott, Stanley F., 1994, Natur

    237 lifetime citations

  14. The Power Spectrum of IRAS Galaxies

    Fisher, Karl B., 1993, ApJ

    230 lifetime citations

  15. Cometary dust trails I. Survey

    Sykes, Mark V., 1992, Icar

    224 lifetime citations

  16. The Gas/Dust Ratio in Spiral Galaxies

    Devereux, Nicholas A., 1990, ApJ

    217 lifetime citations

  17. A maximum correlation method for image construction of IRAS survey data.

    Aumann, H. H., 1990, AJ

    197 lifetime citations

  18. The Herschel Reference Survey: Dust in Early-type Galaxies and across the Hubble Sequence

    Smith, M. W. L., 2012, ApJ

    188 lifetime citations

  19. Molecular and Atomic Clouds Associated with Infrared Cirrus in Ursa Major

    de Vries, Hendrik Willem, 1987, ApJ

    186 lifetime citations

  20. Clustering in the 1.2-Jy IRAS Galaxy Redshift Survey. I - The redshift and real space correlation functions

    Fisher, Karl B., 1994, MNRAS

    182 lifetime citations

How we found these papers

We searched NASA’s Science Explorer (SciX) for peer-reviewed articles naming IRAS in the title, abstract or keywords; standard filters drop articles that are not peer-reviewed and magazine pieces.

((=abs:"Infrared Astronomical Satellite" OR facility:IRAS OR =abs:"IRAS mission")) AND property:refereed AND doctype:article AND pubdate:[1983-03 TO 2040-01] AND NOT bibstem:("A&R" OR "ACPD" OR "AIASJ" OR "AMTD" OR "AeAm" OR "AirSp" OR "AsNow" OR "AsUAI" OR "AvWST" OR "BGD" OR "C&E" OR "C&T" OR "CAPJ" OR "CliPD" OR "E&S" OR "ENews" OR "ESDD" OR "ESSDD" OR "ESuDD" OR "GID" OR "GMDD" OR "GeCAS" OR "HESSD" OR "IrAJ" OR "JCos" OR "JRASC" OR "LAstr" OR "MNSSA" OR "Met" OR "NHESD" OR "NPGD" OR "NewSc" OR "OcScD" OR "Orion" OR "PhT" OR "PhTea" OR "PhuZ" OR "PhyOJ" OR "PhyW" OR "PlR" OR "SOILD" OR "SciAm" OR "SpFl" OR "TCD" OR "ZemVs")

Open in SciX

Removed after review (45)

  1. Cryogenic readout electronics with silicon P-MOSFETS for the infrared astronomical satellite, ASTRO-F Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  2. Cryogenic Optical Testing of Sandwich-Type Silicon Carbide Mirrors Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  3. Cryogenic Capacitive Transimpedance Amplifier for Astronomical Infrared Detectors Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  4. Mid-Infrared All-Sky Survey with the Infrared Camera (IRC) on Board the ASTRO-F Satellite Describes an instrument on Japan's AKARI satellite; mentions IRAS only as a benchmark. Decision 🤖
  5. Thermal design and its on-orbit performance of the AKARI cryostat Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  6. AKARI Observation of the Fluctuation of the Near-infrared Background Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  7. AKARI/AcuA Physical Studies of the Cybele Asteroid Family Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  8. Improvement of micro-vibration of a two-stage Stirling cryocooler Describes space cryocoolers flown on AKARI and other satellites; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  9. The Ariel Target List: The Impact of TESS and the Potential for Characterizing Multiple Planets within a System Target list for ESA's Ariel mission; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  10. Properties of Host Galaxies of Submillimeter Sources as Revealed by JWST Early Release Observations in SMACS J0723.3-7327 Uses JWST and ALMA observations; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  11. Discovery of Seven Volcanic Outbursts on Io from an Infrared Telescope Facility Observation Campaign, 2016-2022 Uses NASA's ground-based Infrared Telescope Facility; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  12. SNR 1987A: Spitzer Data from Days 6000 to 8000 Revisited Uses Spitzer data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  13. Transient response of stressed Ge:Ga detector for ASTRO-F Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  14. Development of Cryogenic Readout Electronics for Sensitive Far-Infrared Detectors Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  15. Observations of near-Earth objects by the Japanese infrared survey mission ASTRO-F Pre-launch observing plans for Japan's ASTRO-F (AKARI) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  16. The ASTRO-F mission: Large area infrared survey Pre-launch overview of Japan's ASTRO-F (AKARI) mission; mentions IRAS only as a predecessor. Decision 🤖
  17. Cryogenic optical performance of the ASTRO-F SiC telescope Describes hardware for Japan's AKARI (ASTRO-F) satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  18. AKARI (ASTRO-F): Flight performance and preliminary results Overview of AKARI's flight performance; mentions IRAS only as a predecessor. Decision 🤖
  19. Flight Performance of the AKARI Cryogenic System Flight performance of AKARI's cryogenic system; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  20. AKARI Infrared Imaging of Reflection Nebulae IC4954 and IC4955 Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  21. Radiation Effects on Stressed Ge:Ga Array Detector of Far-Infrared Surveyor on AKARI Radiation effects on an AKARI detector; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  22. AKARI Observations of Brown Dwarfs. I. CO and CO₂ Bands in the Near-infrared Spectra Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  23. Extended dust shell of the carbon star U Hydrae observed with AKARI Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  24. AKARI Observations of Brown Dwarfs. II. CO₂ as Probe of Carbon and Oxygen Abundances in Brown Dwarfs Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  25. Effects of High-Energy Ionizing Particles on the Si:As Mid-Infrared Detector Array on Board the AKARI Satellite Radiation effects on an AKARI detector; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  26. Laboratory and In-Flight Measurements at 10-55 K of InSb Near-Infrared Detector Performance for the Warm Mission of the AKARI Satellite Detector performance for AKARI's warm mission; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  27. Brightness and Fluctuation of the Mid-infrared Sky from AKARI Observations toward the North Ecliptic Pole Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  28. Lifetime test and heritage on orbit of coolers for space use Space cryocooler lifetime tests; the coolers flew on AKARI, not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  29. Supernova Remnants in the Akari Fis All-Sky Survey Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  30. Albedo Properties of Main Belt Asteroids Based on the All-Sky Survey of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite AKARI Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  31. (25143) Itokawa: The power of radiometric techniques for the interpretation of remote thermal observations in the light of the Hayabusa rendezvous results* Uses AKARI and ground-based observations of asteroid Itokawa; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  32. AKARI infrared camera observations of the 3.3 μm PAH feature in Swift/BAT AGNs Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  33. Revised calibration for near- and mid-infrared images from ∼4000 pointed observations with AKARI/IRC Calibration of AKARI camera images; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  34. Size Dependence of Dust Distribution around the Earth Orbit Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  35. Surface brightness correction for compact extended sources observed by the AKARI Far-Infrared Surveyor in the slow-scan mode Calibration method for AKARI far-infrared images; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  36. AKARI mission program: Excavating Mass Loss History in extended dust shells of Evolved Stars (MLHES). I. Far-IR photometry† Uses Japan's AKARI infrared satellite; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  37. On surface brightness and flux calibration for point and compact extended sources in the AKARI Far-IR All-Sky Survey (AFASS) maps Calibration of AKARI far-infrared survey maps; not IRAS. Decision 🤖
  38. The Isotropic Interplanetary Dust Cloud and Near-infrared Extragalactic Background Light Observed with COBE/DIRBE Uses COBE/DIRBE data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  39. A Search for Rapid Mid-infrared Variability in Gamma-Ray-emitting Narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxies Uses WISE data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  40. Cosmic-ray-related Signals from Detectors in Space: The Spitzer/IRAC Si:As IBC Devices Cosmic-ray effects on Spitzer detectors; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  41. SkyHopper mission science case I: Identification of high redshift Gamma-Ray Bursts through space-based near-infrared afterglow observations Science case for the proposed SkyHopper satellite; matches IRAS only through a generic keyword. Decision 🤖
  42. NEOWISE Observations of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (99942) Apophis Uses NEOWISE data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  43. Near-infrared Polarization Charateristics of the Zodiacal Light Observed with DIRBE/COBE Uses COBE/DIRBE data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  44. Mid-infrared Ensemble Variability of Broad-line and Narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxies Uses WISE data; matches IRAS only through a generic subject keyword. Decision 🤖
  45. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE): Mission Description and Initial On-orbit Performance Mission description of WISE; mentions IRAS only as an earlier sky survey. Decision 🤖