Abstract: A staring infrared microscope which includes optics for focusing a magnified image of an object onto a 2D array detector of IR sensitive elements, a processor for processing the information received from the 2D array detector, including controlling the integration time of the 2D array detector as a function of the magnification of the object to generate a thermal descriptive image of object, and a display for displaying the thermal descriptive image. Also disclosed is a scanning infrared microscope which includes optics for focusing a magnified image of an object onto a linear array detector of IR sensitive elements including a scanning mirror for scanning the object and a processor for processing the information received from the linear array detector to generate a thermal descriptive image of object. The scanning infrared microscope further includes an output display for displaying the thermal descriptive image.