what is the temperature of deep space?

Answer 1

Technically, a vacuum can't have a temperature, since temperature is a manifestation of the kinetic energy of atoms/molecules. However, there is a "background radiation" all through the universe, which is thought to be left over from the Big Bang, and it's 3 Kelvin.

Answer 2

The temperature of deep space is about 2.7 degress above absolute zero.

Contrary to what most people have said, it IS possible to have a nonzero temperature in a vacuum. Most people are accustomed to defining temperature in terms of the random motion of molecules; but an alternative definition is in terms of the spectrum of random radiation (photons) that pervade a volume.

When the volume contains matter, the two definitions of temperature are equivalent. The jiggling of molecules always causes radiation to be emitted (for example, infrared radiation), with a spectrum that corresponds to the molecules' motion. And conversely, if you immerse some matter into a field of radiation, its molecules will start jiggling with a speed that corresponds to the radiation spectrum.

So, if you take the matter away, but the radiation is still there, it is perfectly reasonable to say that the space left over still has a particular temperature, based on the frequency spectrum of the radiation.

Deep space is bathed in photons with a frequency spectrum that corresponds to 2.7 degrees--they're leftover photons from near the time of the big bang. This is another way of saying, if you stick a rock out in deep space, it will cool down (or warm up) to a temperature of 2.7 degrees, and then it will stay at that temperature.

Answer 3

That's impossible to say. There must be matter in order to have temperature, because temperature is simply a measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules or atoms. So if there is no matter present, the concept of temperature is meaningless. The cosmic background radiation (commonly described as 2.7 Kelvin) is not a measure of the temperature of empty space. It is instead a glow of photons left over from the blackbody radiation of the big bang, now far redshifted into the microwave spectrum. The matter that produced those photons is currently at various temperatures throughout the Universe, from very hot to very cold.

Answer 4

Yeah.. Alan_has_bean is right. The temperature of deep space was measured in the early 60's when radio telescopes measured background radiation which is left over from the big bang. That got those guys a Nobel prize. I thought it was 4deg Kelvin... but 3, 4, it's all pretty much the same. It's very low but it's not absolute zero.

Answer 5

It depends on where but generally it's close to absolute zero.

However, and this is interesting. I've read that if one were exposed unprotected to outer space, the extreme cold wouldn't be that much of a factor due to the fact that there is so little matter in space that the only way for the temperature to produce change in a warmer body is through radiation, which is quite slow.

So it isn't like you would instantly freeze.

Answer 6

As near to -273.15°C (0 K) as can be.
(As temperature is a function of the Kinetic Energy of the motion of molecules and, as there's some stray atoms and molecules of gases in outer space and, in order to exist they MUST have energy, then whatever energy they contain, prevents Absolute Zero from being attained.
(The same applies for the inability to achieve Absolute Zero Pressure).

Answer 7

Absolute zero is 0 K, where K is Kelvin. 0 K is equally to about -273 degrees C.


Absolute zero describes a theoretical system that neither emits nor absorbs energy. The Absolute zero temperature is known to be 0 K (–273.15 °C). While it is possible to cool any substance to near absolute zero, it can never actually be achieved.

Answer 8

no, not 0 K, the lowest is like 3 Kelvin degree, maybe much lower, because we have been able to build a refrigerators that get to lower than 3 degrees above Absolute Zero, and for quite a while we have been able to even get lower than 1/1000 of a degree above Absolute Zero. 0K means everything stops. it cannot be 0K.

Answer 9

near absolute Zero... (-459 degrees F.) (-273 degrees C) +- 3-4 degrees
I change my answer to close to absolute zero and there really is no temperature in a vacumn.. The others are correct

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/880000587.As.r.html

Answer 10

Temperature is a property of matter. As space is a vacuum (the absence of matter) it has no temperature.

The previous two answers are wrong.