Why do infrared guns show below minus celsius in the sky?

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Pointed my IR laser at the sky today, and it showed about -12.2 celsius. Is there no blackbody radiation in the air? Or there is such gases like Nitrogen? Argon? Also, how far does the laser reach into the sky?

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7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Infrared guns show below minus Celsius temperatures in the sky because they detect the infrared radiation emitted by objects. The sky, especially on a clear day, emits very little infrared radiation due to its low temperature, often resulting in readings that are well below freezing.

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