In January 1983， the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)<br >was launched into space. Its job was to observe the unwerse<br >through infrared sensors. Infrared is a form of light that is invisi-<br >ble to the human eye. Surveying the entire sky， IRAS discov<br >ered five new comets and a new asteroid. It examined galaxies<br >hundreds of times brighter than the Milky Way. It even probed<br >the gas and dust clouds between the stars. While scanning the<br >star Vegs， IRAS made an important discovery. A dusty ring sur-<br >rounds this star. As yet， matter in the ring has not clumped to-<br >gether to form planets. But the existence of the ring is the first<br >clear evidence that stars other than our sun may have planetary<br >systems.<br > Spectacular photographs of a universe never before seen<br >have been radioed back to the earth by IRAS， Scientists exampn-<br >ing the data have confirmed an amazing scientific fact All wsi-<br >ble objects--be they huge galaxies of stars or tiny particles of<br >matter floating in space--are made of the same matter thai is<br >found on the earth. Nowhere in the universe is there matter<br >unlike that which exists "at home." For even the fiery stars are<br >composed of the same basic materials as the air， the rocks， the<br >seas， and you!<br >