PR055: Corbell's "U.S. Military Films Huge Disc Hiding In The Clouds" new video 06/17/25

[Ravi]

Maybe dumb question, but do things like flares, bokeh and the things we associate with regular light cameras occur in IR cameras? I know they may use lenses and sensors like regular cameras, but they're not recording light, right? They record heat and create a B&W image from the different levels of heat, right?

IR (heat) is a different part of the EM spectrum, and using the right optical materials (or mirror designs), it can be used to image and view. The IR of course differs from VIS or even UV, in that IR is radiated from objects as well as receiving radiation.

 

[RobertBillyBob]

Maybe dumb question, but do things like flares, bokeh and the things we associate with regular light cameras occur in IR cameras? I know they may use lenses and sensors like regular cameras, but they're not recording light, right? They record heat and create a B&W image from the different levels of heat, right?

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1007716/dow-uap-pr091-21-aug-callsign-observes-uap-persian-gulf

Look at the top left diffraction pattern between 1m44 and 1m52. I think you can see a lens flare behind it (it's more convincing in motion):

 

[Mick West]

Look at the top left diffraction pattern between 1m44 and 1m52. I think you can see a lens flare behind it (it's more convincing in motion):

Definitely, you can see it move so it stays lined up with the heat source (probably a gas flaring burn), and the center of the screen.

 

[FatPhil]

Could the flare be caused by light from the sun if the sun is not in frame?

Most often, such flares occur when the sun (or saturating source) is out of frame. They are generally the undesired reflections from the internals of the optical system. When the sun's in frame, it bleaches everything nearby.

 

[Mick West]

Most often, such flares occur when the sun (or saturating source) is out of frame. They are generally the undesired reflections from the internals of the optical system. When the sun's in frame, it bleaches everything nearby.

Some thermal cameras (like mine) will shut down the instant the sun is in frame, dropping a shield in front of the sensor.