4 ms·

The sci-fi game series Mass Effect had a good explaination for this, and tied it in with the notion of ships having recognizable "signatures": http://masseffec

• golergka 12y ago
  It also works similarly in Eve Online, btw.
  • s_kilk 12y ago
    Indeed, whenever corp-mates would ask why there are brightly lit "windows" on their ships I would point out that they were actually heat dissipation panels.
• teamonkey 12y ago
  A major mechanic in Elite Dangerous is managing your ship's internal heat and heat signature.