03. Do temperatures differ in different parts of space? What are the hot and cold temperature extremes in space? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Jump to: navigation, search

Objects in space are warmer the closer they are to the Sun or Earth. Since radiation is the only way to transmit heat in space, the color or reflective properties of an object in space are important. A black object absorbs more light and gets warmer than a white object. The astronauts have white spacesuits which reflect sunlight to keep them from getting too hot in direct sunlight, and they have heaters to keep them warm in shadow. Inside their suits the temperature is kept close to room temperature. The outsides of their suits can get very hot or very cold. In space an object can reach temperatures more than 250° F facing the Sun, and facing away from the Sun and in shadow, an object's temperature can fall as low as -250° F.

Answer provided by Robert P. McCoy, Ph.D.


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


Buy This Book Click here

Retrieved from "http://www.thespacelibrary.com/mediawiki/index.php/03._Do_temperatures_differ_in_different_parts_of_space%3F_What_are_the_hot_and_cold_temperature_extremes_in_space%3F_%28A_K2S_Question%29"