The probe is reading approximately the temperature of the plastic that surrounds the resistor. If it is in the light that would be approximately the surface temperature of the surface it is sitting on. There is a little varience due to dfferences in color or material. Because surface temp is the combination of the air temp. and the reflected and radient heat absorbed by the surface.

As I said I use thermometers in the center of all my basking spots. I also have a temp. gun. The readings by the thermometers are pretty much identicle as when you temp. gun them. I test and experiment with everything. Try it you'll see I'm right. Even if you were to dangle the probe in the light you still would not be measuring the air temp. You would have to block the light from hitting the probe to get an air temp. That's why thermometers are always placed outdoors in the shade.

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