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SXTY82 t1_j5p8cb0 wrote

Reply to comment by dumb_password_loser in Why does hot air cool? by AspGuy25

The first time I took a look at a window with my thermal camera I could see the reflection of myself in the thermal image but not in the window itself.

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ThisTooWillEnd t1_j5ppwaq wrote

I've been playing with a thermal camera and not only do I observe what you're describing, I also clearly saw my reflection in a tile wall with the thermal camera.

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Dusty923 t1_j5pj1j7 wrote

Glass reflects different wavelengths of light differently. House windows may also have an infrared-reflective composition or coating (for more efficient cooling in warm sunny weather).

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Denamic t1_j5rocnx wrote

Thermal cameras use IR. IR, being light, bounces off reflective surfaces.

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zebediah49 t1_j5s0zx3 wrote

The relevant point is that visible light will happily go through a normal glass window, whereas long-IR will not. Windows are opaque (and pretty reflective) to thermal cameras.

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