IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph) is the first light instrument designed to work with the adaptive optics system (NFIRAOS) for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). IRIS offers a powerful ensuite instrument with both a near-infrared imager an integral field spectrograph (IFS) optimized to work at the diffration limit of this giant telescope. The IFS will provide moderate resolution (R ~ 4000 – 10,000) spectra over a continuous spatial field, and both the IFS and image will operate in parallel in the wavelength region from 0.84 µm to 2.4 µm.

IRIS will provide unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity to provide revolutionary science opportunities across the entire cosmic distance scales. The imager will offer ground breaking sensitivity and provide the sharpest infrared images ever taken with exquisite astrometric precision. In parallel imaging during long spectrographic exposures, the camera will produce some of the deepest images of the cosmologically distant Universe at an unprecedented plate scale of 4 milliarcseconds. IRIS has a broad breadth of science ranging from characterizing the first stars igniting after the Big Bang to studying the detailed surface chemistry of Solar System objects.