# The Dynamic Infrared Sky

## TL;DR

This paper advocates for systematic exploration of the dynamic infrared sky to advance multi-messenger astronomy, stellar evolution, and high-energy physics, emphasizing challenges and future technological needs.

## Contribution

It highlights the importance of infrared surveys for multi-messenger astrophysics and proposes strategies and recommendations for future infrared discovery and follow-up instruments.

## Key findings

- Infrared observations are crucial for localizing gravitational waves.
- Infrared surveys can detect supernovae in the Milky Way.
- Challenges in infrared astronomy need dedicated solutions.

## Abstract

Opening up the dynamic infrared sky for systematic time-domain exploration would yield many scientific advances. Multi-messenger pursuits such as localizing gravitational waves from neutron star mergers and quantifying the nucleosynthetic yields require the infrared. Another multi-messenger endeavor that needs infrared surveyors is the study of the much-awaited supernova in our own Milky Way. Understanding shocks in novae, true rates of supernovae and stellar mergers are some other examples of stellar evolution and high energy physics wherein the answers are buried in the infrared. We discuss some of the challenges in the infrared and pathfinders to overcome them. We conclude with recommendations on both infrared discovery engines and infrared follow-up machines that would enable this field to flourish in the next decade.