Here, the old remote sensor gathers useful information about his environment without using his visible remote sensors. His skin, which is an entirely separate remote sensing system, can provide information on the warmth emanating from a nearby radiator.

In an analogous fashion, satellite instruments can be constructed which sense radiation in the thermal wavelengths (infrared). In fact, such intruments can gather more than just a vague impression of heat energy. By sensing infrared radiation in very narrow wavelength intervals (similar to distinguishing the specific colors within the wider visible radiation band), satellites can gather very precise information about the temperature of earth's surface; about the temperature of cloud tops; about the concentration and temperature of specific gases in the atmosphere; and a wide variety of other earth system parameters.