AKARI (ASTRO-F) was an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. It was launched on 21 February 2006, at 21:28 UTC (06:28, 22 February JST) by M-V rocket into Earth Sun-synchronous orbit. After its launch it was named AKARI (明かり), which means light in Japanese. Earlier on, the project was known as IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Surveyor).

Its primary mission was to survey the entire sky in near-, mid- and far-infrared, through its 68.5 cm (27.0 in) aperture telescope.

Its designed lifespan, of far- and mid-infrared sensors, was 550 days, limited by its liquid helium coolant.

Its telescope mirror was made of silicon carbide to save weight. The budget for the satellite was ¥13.4 billion (~US$110 million).

By mid-August 2006, AKARI finished around 50 per cent of the all-sky survey.

By early November 2006, first (phase-1) all-sky survey finished. Second (phase-2) all-sky survey started on 10 November 2006.

Due to the malfunction of Sun sensor after the launch, ejection of telescope aperture lid was delayed, resulting in the coolant lifespan estimate being shortened to about 500 days from launch. However, after JAXA estimated the remaining helium during early March 2007, observation time was extended at least until 9 September.

On 11 July 2007, JAXA informed that 90 per cent of the sky was scanned twice. Also around 3,500 selected targets have been observed so far.