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Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) mapped the absolute sky brightness in 10 wavelength bands ranging from 1.25 microns to 240 microns. The data contains the signal from the cosmic infrared background and the foreground emissions from extragalactic sources, our Galaxy, and dust and other sources in our solar system. DIRBE was an experiment on NASA's COBE mission, to survey the diffuse infrared sky. Measurements were made with a reflecting telescope with 19 cm diameter aperture. The goal was to obtain brightness maps of the universe at ten frequency bands ranging from the near to far infrared (1.25 to 240 micrometer). The COBE mission was launched in November 1989. The spacecraft contained liquid helium that cooled the DIRBE instrument to below 2K to allow it to image in the infrared wavelengths. Primary observation started December 11, 1989 and ran until September 21, 1990, when the liquid helium ran out.
