  The Infrared spectral region is a rich one for variable star work, especially
of cooler stars, but it has been hard to do IR photometry because of high,
variable background, and specialized telescopic equipment that is usually
required to obtain meaningful data. Typically telescopes with IR detectors have
been at high elevations, to minimize water vapor absorption. Nearly all the
filters produced for astronomical work at observatories around the world have
not been optimized for use at anything other than the highest and driest of
observatories. This has made it difficult for amateur astronomers to contribute
to this field. Now, however, this is no longer the case. The IAU's Infrared
Working Group (IRWG) has designed and tested a set of IR filters less sensitive
to water vapor, permitting observations at any site where precise optical
photometry can be carried out. Data acquired with these filters can be
corrected easily for atmospheric (water vapor) extinction, unlike the situation
with the older IR filters. We demonstrate this with data from the University of
Calgary's Rothney Astrophysical Observatory.
