Latest news with #thermalcamera
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA spacecraft snaps a rare photo of Mars and its moons together
On its long journey to the outer solar system, NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft made a planned detour — and seized a striking photo opportunity. In a single frame, the uncrewed Europa Clipper caught Mars alongside both of its tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos, as they waltzed through space, all glowing in infrared light. The image, presented below, is more than a pretty picture. It offers a rare look at a planetary trio not often seen together, and it provided mission engineers a crucial chance to fine-tune the spacecraft's thermal camera as it zipped past the Red Planet. From about 560,000 miles away — more than twice the distance between Earth and the moon — Europa Clipper's infrared camera snapped 200 individual frames over the course of 20 minutes on Feb. 28. The frames were later stitched together to reveal the glowing heat signatures of Mars, Phobos, and Deimos. The result is a surreal view: Mars dominates the center, faintly surrounded by image-processing artifacts. At the upper left, Deimos appears as a tiny glowing dot. Closer in is Phobos, Mars' larger and innermost moon. To make the dim moons visible — each about 250 times fainter than Mars — engineers brightened the image. From a half-million miles away, NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft captured Mars with its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, in space. To see a labeled view, swipe the slider above to the left. Visible on the planet itself is a dark patch near the top, marking the frigid northern polar cap, where temperatures dip to about -190 degrees Fahrenheit. A circular region shows Elysium Mons, one of Mars' giant volcanoes. The Martian moons are rarely seen together, let alone with their host planet. The first time Phobos and Deimos were both caught on camera was in November 2009, when the Mars Express orbiter snagged the unprecedented image, according to the European Space Agency. The portrait, which showcased the duo lined up, one behind the other, took years of planning, precise knowledge of their orbits, and some lucky viewing geometry. Scientists know relatively little about Phobos and Deimos, two of the smallest known moons in the solar system. Both are "blacker than coal and look like battered potatoes," according to ESA. Phobos is the larger of the pair, about 14 miles wide, and circles Mars three times a day. Deimos, just seven or eight miles across, orbits Mars every 30 hours. Right now researchers aren't sure where the moons came from, and it remains a source of mystery. Some believe they could have been asteroids captured in orbit around the Red Planet. Others think they could be chunks of Mars itself, blown out by a giant collision billions of years ago. The new Europa Clipper image was taken using one of the spacecraft's thermal sensors, designed to detect heat instead of visible light. This tool will later be used to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, a frozen world believed to harbor a salty ocean beneath its icy crust — and possibly the conditions to support life. The instrument — the Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System, or E-Themis — should help identify places where Europa's inner ocean might be interacting with its frozen shell — a key clue in the search for alien life. The spacecraft used Mars' gravity in March to tweak its path, a maneuver known as a gravity assist, on its way to the outer solar system. That close encounter provided a convenient moment to test instruments — and admire Earth's ruddy neighbor. Just a few days later, on March 12, another spacecraft made a pop-in for a gravity assist and some photos. That robotic spacecraft is on the European Hera mission to study the asteroid NASA intentionally crashed into three years ago. Europa Clipper launched from Florida in October 2024 and is scheduled to arrive at the Jupiter system in 2030. Once there, it will perform nearly 50 flybys of Europa, gathering detailed measurements of its surface, interior, and chemistry. If NASA finds that Europa is a habitable place, a second Europa mission could return to determine if there are indeed any inhabitants. Solve the daily Crossword
CNET
24-06-2025
- CNET
Leaks May Be Costing You Precious Cool Air During Summer Heat. This Device Can Help
During a heat wave like the one many of us are negotiating now, air conditioning can send your energy bills to the moon. Even blasting the central air or portable units doesn't always seem to cool as it should and that may be due to air leaks in your home. Windows are the most common culprits but air leaks can develop all over the home and the only way to stop them is to root them out. I use thermal camera to find leaks where cool air is escaping my home this summer causing the house to warm more and the AC to be less efficient. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. I used the HSFTools Finder S2 and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that were costing me precious dollars spent on energy. The HSFTools model costs $200 but there are well-rated versions for as cheap as $78 on Amazon. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
05-06-2025
- CNET
Find Air Leaks in Your Home and Save Big on AC This Summer. Here's How I Do It
Air conditioning can send your summer energy bills soaring, but there are smart ways to keep costs in check. Setting your thermostat to a steady, reasonable temperature helps -- but just as important is making sure all that hard-earned cool air isn't sneaking out through cracks, gaps, or poorly sealed windows and doors. It's not easy to maintain comfortable temperatures during extreme weather, but I developed a DIY ventilation system that brings in cool air at night and schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. And never underestimate the power of fans. More recently, I found a new tool to find leaks where cool air is escaping causing the house to warm more and the AC to be less efficient: a thermal camera. I used the HSFTools Finder S2 thermal camera and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that were costing me precious dollars spent on energy.. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
28-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Use This Smart Device to Find Air Leaks and Keep My Summer AC Bill From Soaring
Air conditioning is one of the biggest energy draws during summer, but there are ways to keep that electric bill from skyrocketing during warmer months. Keeping the thermostat set to a consistent temperature is one, but making sure that precious cool air isn't escaping your home is another. I've struggled to maintain comfortable temperatures during extreme weather. I implemented a DIY ventilation system that brings in cool air at night and I schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus, I have lots and lots of fans. Although these strategies have helped, I recently found a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I got my hands on the HSFTools Finder S2 thermal camera and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
Air Leaks Allow Costly Energy to Escape. This Device Helped Me Find Them Ahead of Summer
My two-bedroom townhome struggles to maintain comfortable temperatures upstairs in extreme weather. Over the years, I've tried everything to manage the summer heat. Relocating my bed from the scorching master bedroom (now my home office) to a smaller bedroom helped me sleep better. My DIY ventilation system brings in cool air at night, while a portable air conditioner supplements the central AC system in the hottest weather. I even schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus fans, lots of fans. Although these strategies have made a difference, I've reached the limits of major changes I can make as a renter -- at least if I want lower energy bills. Now, I have a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I recently got my hands on a sample of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 thermal camera so I conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. A rundown of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 as I have limited experience with thermal cameras but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. Unfortunately, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512 x 384, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90° in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTOOLS app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTOOLS app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the FLIR One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a mid-range infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15°F to 20°F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. Fortunately, you can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
