Can you see Infra Red light with the naked eye?

Question

Someone was telling me that you can actually see IR lights with your eyes if you are in a dark enough place (with the naked eye). Is this true? If so, can you back up the facts?

please give concrete facts or examples so that I can have the evidence to prove this.

Answer 1

You can usually see an IR lamp because it still emits some visible light.

The S cones have peak sensitivity at 564–580 nm, but it's a bell curve, so there is still some sensitivity even down to 700 or 750 nm. Near infrared nominally starts at 750 nm, so pick the shortest wavelength you are willing to call infrared, and make the light intense enough, and you'll find people able to see it.

Answer 2

Depends on whose eye it is. Some smart fellas think snakes and other night hunters can see in shades of infra red. Look it up on the net.

Answer 3

What bandwidths of light a creature can see is based on the structure and size of their eye. Other environmental factors like the level of ambient light have no bearing.

Answer 4

You can only see infrared with special devices. Infrared is heat energy so you cannot see it with the naked eye.

Answer 5

You can only see infrared with special devices. Infrared is heat energy so you cannot see it with the naked eye.

Answer 6

Not true. Red visible light is the closest thing you'll ever see to infrared.

Answer 7

Yip, maybe I have better eyes than others or the environment. Try outside at night, but Im guessing its the mist in the air that enables me to see it.

Answer 8

your eyes may "feel" the IR light (heat), not exactly same as "seeing" it...