What Temp is an Object Orbiting the Sun?

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SUMMARY

An object orbiting the Sun at a distance similar to Earth would experience a temperature range between -160ºC and over 200ºC, depending on its exposure to sunlight or shade. This information is derived from Table 11-43 in "Space Mission Analysis and Design" by Wertz and Larson (1999). In deep space, far from any thermal influences, the temperature approaches the cosmic background radiation level of approximately 4 K. The concept of thermal equilibrium is crucial, as it dictates that the tin can will reach a stable temperature similar to that of Earth when in equilibrium with its surroundings.

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Aerospace engineers, astrophysicists, and anyone interested in the thermal dynamics of objects in space will benefit from this discussion.

pkalmond
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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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