How cold is outer space?

In fact, if space were not this cold, we'd all be in deep trouble. The Earth could not shed the tremendous amount of heat it receives from the Sun. Eventually, its oceans would boil. So we really need the cold of deep space as a sink for our waste heat. read more

As you travel away from the Sun, the temperature of an object in space plummets. The surface temperature of Pluto can get as low as -240 Celsius, just 33 degrees above absolute zero. Clouds of gas and dust between the stars within our galaxy are only 10 to 20 degrees above absolute zero. read more

That’s about 298 degrees above what scientists call “absolute zero.”. When matter reaches a temperature of “absolute zero,” it means that molecules have stopped jiggling altogether. Outer space is only about 3 degrees Celsius warmer than absolute zero. So, space is about 295 degrees colder than room temperature. read more

In fact, if space were not this cold, we’d all be in deep trouble. The Earth could not shed the tremendous amount of heat it receives from the Sun. Eventually, its oceans would boil. So we really need the cold of deep space as a sink for our waste heat. read more

That’s a nonsense question. It’s only when you put a thing in space, like a rock, or an astronaut, that you can measure temperature. Remember there are three ways that heat can transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. Heat up one side of a metal bar, and the other side will get hot too; that’s conduction. read more

Outer space is only about 3 degrees Celsius warmer than absolute zero. So, space is about 295 degrees colder than room temperature. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine and all the way to my tail. Understanding temperature is important when scientists and engineers are designing equipment to explore in the extreme conditions of space. read more