What is the temperature of Outer Space?
Most of us probably know that it is cold in outer space – but how cold is it, exactly? Is the temperature of outer space the same everywhere, or does the temperature differ in different areas? Read on for answers to these questions and more.
Giving a single temperature for outer space is actually inaccurate because the temperature does vary in different areas of space. Therefore, it is difficult to sum up the temperature of space without giving some clarification of how that overall temperature was determined.
Even though we think of space as being mostly made of up various planets and stars, the reality is the vast majority of space is really just empty space – the space between planets, stars, asteroids, etc. It is in these empty spaces where the temperature of outer space is at its coldest. Scientists believe that the temperature in these areas is nearly absolute zero. Absolute zero is the scientific term for the temperature at which all activity stops – more specifically, the temperature at which molecules, atoms, and electrons stop moving. This is theoretically the coldest temperature that can be attained.
In more exact terms, the temperature of the emptiness of outer space is about 3 degrees Kelvin. In the Kelvin temperature scale, 0 degrees is absolute zero, so obviously the temperature of outer space is nearly absolute zero and very cold!
ТОЗИ САЙТ МИ ХАРЕСВА МНОГО.
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the picture is very cool and pretty. 🙂
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So I still am looking for a answer? Is it 200 below zero? 500 below zero? 1000 below zero?
Can you give me a more deffinite answer?
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Bill…as we mention in the post, the temperature of interstellar space is about 3 degrees Kelvin. If you convert 3 degrees Kelvin to Fahrenheit, it would be -454.27. If you convert 3 degrees Kelvin to Celsius, it would be -270.15. Hope that helps.
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Bill, not only should you read the answer you were given above, but you should read it more carefully. Space cannot possibly get any colder than ‘nearly’ absolute zero, because there exists activity in space “more specifically, the temperature at which molecules, atoms, and electrons stop moving” is when absolute zero can be achieved. In other words, at no point in space is there a total lack of activity, when everything stops. Movement creates energy, hence a temperature above absolute zero exists.
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jon replied:
December 1st, 2011 at 9:09 pm
That is the most simple and direct answer to the whole debate!
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Matthew replied:
February 12th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Wouldn’t it be more correct to say that movement transfers energy, instead of creates it? The movement “generates” heat while depleting the kinetic energy of the object. No new energy is ever created (in the strictest literal sense).
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That’s very deep .no life form exists in space as far as we know.
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WOW!
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They did find some signs of life, didn’t they?
I thought I read about them finding something in a rock from the Moon or possibly Mars that also indicated water presence?
If we’re the only ones, it’s an awfull waste of space!
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P replied:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:19 am
No life in SPACE, he said nothing about life on other planets.
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So if I was in an austronaut suit and stuck my hand out it would freeze and fall off?
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ana replied:
November 20th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
that would be werid dont you think
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Tmcool replied:
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:52 pm
that would be painful and also u would not be able to tell anyone if it was cold because you would bleed to death and also it might be to quick u would not even know it happened
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lets just say farther away from the sun the colder it get think about it Venus it hot earth is “just right to live in” and Neptune is cold. so in between can change in temp. so it could almost be any temp.
Tmcool
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Outer space is a vacuum. How can a vacuum have a temperature? Temperature is measured based upon the vibration of atoms and molecules. A vacuum has neither. Would not a better answer be that temperature is not a defined entity in a vacuum?
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Kid replied:
December 19th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
WRONG!
There can still be radiation and light in a vacuum, which is the case for space. Now if these things werent happening then yea space would probably be absolute zero.
Hello! Im 16!!
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and the pic looks awseome !! 😀
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Heck yes, the picture looks awesome!
Seeing it from the corner of my eye and reading how space is empty! -Everything stood still like i was in space!
What a scary feeling that may be.
But i love the knowledge
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Larissa replied:
February 16th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
When the time comes where space isn’t moving at alll would be crazt
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