The remote sensing apparatus and method include optical fibers and detectors. One end of the optical fibers is located in a focal plane of an optical system, with the end of each optical fiber collecting spectral energy arriving at a particular location in the focal plane. Each detector is coupled to the other end of a single optical fiber, and the detector measures the intensity of the spectral energy emitted by the optical fiber. Sets of detectors may also be utilized, such that each set of detectors is optically coupled to a respective fiber, and at least one separation element separates the spectral energy emitted by each optical fiber into a plurality of spectral bands. Each detector in each set of detectors then receives a respective spectral band emitted by a respective optical fiber.