How hot were the Apollo rock samples?

Question

Since lunar day time temperatures can reach 250 degrees F, and since the surface of the moon is almost a near vacuum, wouldn't any rocks an astronaut picked up be extremely hot?

(Granted, the lunar landings were always scheduled before local "high noon" to ensure good shadows, the rocks must still have been thoroughly heated.)

Answer 1

I thought that the astronuts used some type of tool to pick up the rocks and put them in a bag.

And the space suits were well insulated to prevent the sun from making them too hot.

I suppose that the rooks cooled down after they sat in the lunar module for awhile.

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Answer 2

I'm struggling to answer this question because of the laws of thermodynamics. Since the moon/space is essentially a vacuum, then heat energy can't be transmitted (no molecules to move around to heat up). The Earth is able to retain the energy since we have an atmosphere. Although the moon probably does provide heat internally, so I would have to say that the rocks were geothermally warmed to a stable temperature, which I don't know of, but would think it was much less than 100 degrees F. Can you imagine astronauts walking in boiling water with their suits (212deg F)??

Answer 3

So hot, that it makes Angelina Jolie look like Kathy Bates.