[ELI5] Would something stay hot in the space forever since there is nothing to transfer its heat?

Question

[ELI5] Would something stay hot in the space forever since there is nothing to transfer its heat?

In: 169

Answer 1

I’m surprised that no one has used the Earth as an example. It sits, so to speak, in space. The Sun adds heat energy by the radiation, both in the visible spectrum and not, to the Earth. The Earth radiates that heat at a rate where it is at equilibrium: the energy input = the energy output.