Sky Sensing: Remote Sensing

Remote sensing, in the broadest sense, is the process of gathering data remotely. “Remote” in this case means that a human can’t use any of their five senses to gather data about what they are studying. According to this definition, any kind of measurements or visualization that we do without direct contact is remote sensing. Here are some examples:

Standing on a street and taking a video to count the number of cars passing isn’t remote sensing, but rigging a camera to a traffic light to take a video is remote sensing.
Putting trackers on whales is remote sensing, because you aren’t physically following them around.
Looking out a telescope in your backyard is remote sensing, because you are using an instrument to see something you can’t with the naked eye.
Looking in an electron microscope is remote sensing for the same reason.

Sometimes when scientists use the term “remote sensing”, they are referring specifically to the use of manmade satellites and high-flying aircraft to gather data about Earth.

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