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Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: What if...
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Date: 27 Mar 89 19:35:25 GMT
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<1989Mar25.222108.9060@utzoo.uucp> <7648@killer.Dallas.TX.US>
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From: rogers@wlf.isi.edu (Craig Milo Rogers)
Path: wlf.isi.edu!rogers

        Well, let's not go overboard and say, "Space has no temperature
'cause it isn't matter".  Here are a few approaches to the problem, ordered
by decreasing responsiveness to the original question:

1)      Say that space is like a giant thermos bottle (of course, not
        everyone knows how they work).  Approximate temperature change with
        time by comparing human base metabolism rate to blackbody radiation
        rate.

2)      Note that black body "temperature" in earth orbit is, essentially,
        thermal equilibrium with radiation from the Sun.  Look up (or
        calculate) solar flux density and take it from there.  (Refine
        the estimates, if you wish, by allowing for eclipse periods.)

3)      Generalize the question to mean, "What is the temperature of
        the universe?"  Answer using the cosmic ray background temperature.

4)      Note that energy is matter.  Gravitational energy across otherwise
        empty space assigns it a non-zero temperature, which may, for example,
        be indicated by virtual pair production rate.  Calculate the 
        gravitational field strength in the vicinity of the Earth.
        

        So much for handwaving;  numeric answers for the above approaches
are left as an exercise for the reader who's been practicing their mental
aerobics more regularly than I.  And, as pointed out already, a realistic
answer combines approaches (1) and (2) with the observation that space rescue
balls probably aren't black bodies to a significant extent.
        
                                        Craig Milo Rogers