How do night vision googles/devices work. A quick run down.

Night Vision In Popculture

Night vision sounded like something straight out of a movie circa 1991. James Bond like secret agents dawning a pair of goggles, sneaking into a hostile fortification, and taking down enemies in total darkness. Or perhaps a the Predator movie as he stalks Arnold Schwartzenegger, unseen, through the night. Is this portrayal accurate? Well today its not just a movie trope but part of some corners of cultural attire. 

With a quality Night Vision Device (NVD) or popularly called NODs for us military sunset goons, you can spot a person over 200 yards away with little lume. Goggles, scopes, or cameras, these devices are one of two types of night vision: image enhancement or thermal imaging

Understanding Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging captures the upper portion of the infrared light spectrum. This is the light that objects emit as heat rather than reflect as light. Warmer objects, such as a rocks, vehicals or a person's body, emit more infrared light than cooler objects, like vegetation. This heat signature is what you see when using thermal imaging.

A thermogram, is the process that begins at the lens, which focuses infrared light from the scene and consists of elements that creates a temperature pattern . This thermogram is converted into electric impulses, which are then translated into data for the display as different colors depending on infrared intensity.

Image Enhancement: Seeing in the Dark

Image enhancement works differently. It gathers small amounts of light and amplifies it by converting photons into electrons. Electrons are then amplified through a micro-channel plate (MCP) with high voltage and projected at a screen coated in phosphors.

The electrons retain their alignment as they pass through the micro-channels to create an accurate image. When the electrons strike the screen, the phosphors are excited, releasing photons and generating the familiar green visual you're accustom to seeing through most popular night vision devices.

Night Vision has been around for over 40 years. Today, they serve a wide range of purposes, from military operations, law enforcement, outdoor enthusiasts to fire and wildlife workers. With new generation, night vision is becoming cheaper and  more accessible, allowing us to all become the moon goons we were meant to be.