We all heard of night vision because we seen and utilize it regularly. However, it's important to distinguish between active and passive night vision technologies. You can delve into the distinctions by reading our blog on FLIR systems. This blog page specifically focuses on the utilization of active IR night vision for a citizen UFO surveillance tool.
The goal is not to promote any specific brand. However, given the multitude of options, the examples below represent popular choices for research purposes.
First, military night vision surveillance cameras represent cutting-edge, advanced technologies that are out of reach for the public as citizen tools. Let's shift our focus to commercial solutions that, with the right budget, we can potentially deploy. One such solution is the use of fixed-wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
There are several companies that manufacture these UAVs, capable of remaining airborne for 2-8 hours, in contrast to high-end consumer quadcopters with an average flight time of about 30 minutes. Some even feature VTOL (Vertical Take Off & Landing) capabilities. Fixed-wing UAVs can be powered by gasoline, battery, or solar energy. They allow for the mounting of night vision surveillance cameras equipped with a gimbal system. A gimbal serves as a stabilizer, using motors to keep the camera steady on each axis. Numerous EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) gimbal cameras designed for surveillance can be mounted on these fixed-wing UAVs, with a quality unit typically costing around $10K.
Considering the maritime route, the SiOnyx Nightwave emerges as a good and affordable option at around $2K. Capable of producing high-quality images in almost complete darkness at a 30Hz rate, the Nightwave proves to be an excellent choice.
FLIR technology excels in scenarios involving temperature changes, making it advantageous for identifying situations like a man-overboard scenario or detecting radiation emitted by a UFO. On the other hand, the Nightwave stands out in terms of low-light visibility and cost, showcasing its strengths over FLIR technology. The Nightwave is affordable because its active IR technology is considered outdated, while FLIR's passive IR technology is gaining popularity. In general, FLIR cameras tend to be more expensive. The Nightwave, like our eyes, is affected by dust, smoke, cloudy nights, rain, and fog. In contrast, FLIR is not impacted by these environmental factors.
For common citizen use, the SiOnyx Aurora Pro (priced below $1K) is an excellent monocular camera for UFO sightings. This color digital night vision camera is capable of capturing full-color images down to 2 millilux or under near-moonless starlight conditions. Its ultra-low-light sensor technology enables viewers to experience vivid color even in challenging lighting conditions.
When it comes to night vision monocular (or even binoculars), the options on Amazon are abundant, ranging from $100 to $1,000.
The active IR technology behind these night vision cameras might be considered outdated when compared to passive thermal imaging cameras like FLIR. However, in terms of cost-effectiveness for citizen projects, they stand out and play a vital role in spotting UFOs in the dark. This tool is a must-have for ufologists in their quest for extraordinary evidence.