Imaging spectroscopy: Origin and future trends

Imaging spectroscopy, a useful tool for modern spectroscopic studies, can embed both spatial and spectral information to a set of images and derive the spectra from that. Such techniques are implemented to diversified fields like space observation and laboratory studies of solid materials. The present article intends to highlight the less noticed but significant fact that today's imaging spectroscopy in physical science originates from hyperspectral remote sensing, a technique for earth science that acquired maturity during the last three decades. It introduces several applications of spectral imaging for terrestrial and extraterrestrial objects and anticipates some future trends in this technique. Implementation of imaging spectroscopy to atomic and molecular physics is hoped to provide an indication of future research in this direction.