What Temp is an Object Orbiting the Sun?

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An object like a tin can orbiting the Sun at Earth's distance would experience temperature variations between -160ºC and over 200ºC, depending on whether it is sunlit or shaded. In deep space, far from thermal influences, the temperature would drop to approximately 4 K due to cosmic background radiation. The Earth maintains a stable temperature by absorbing and emitting energy in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings. Therefore, a tin can in thermal equilibrium with Earth would have a similar average temperature. Understanding these temperature dynamics is crucial for spacecraft design and operation.
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An object (a tin can for example) orbiting the Sun at about the same distance as the Earth would be what temperature?
 
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This is really not a question about the sky is it :)

In any region close to the Earth, the temperature can vary from about -160ºC to over 200ºC, based on Table 11-43 "Typical Operating Temperature Ranges for Selected Spacecraft Components," from "Space Mission Analysis and Design," Wertz and Larson (eds) Kluwer 1999, ISBN 1884883108.

the variation depends on if it is sunlit or shaded
when you get away from any thermal influence of the sun or other body, ie. deep space, the temperature drops to the cosmic background radiation temp of ~ 4 K

Dave
 
Sure it's a question about the sky. If the Earth is at a stable temperature that means that it absorbs about as much energy from it's surroundings (the sky) as it emits.

Earth is at thermal equilibrium with with it's surroundings (more or less), so when the tin can is in thermal equilibrium it will be at the same average temperature.
 
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