[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

No, because one of heat dissipation mechanisms is radiation. All non zero temperature objects radiate Electromagnetic waves. Most things around us do it in far infrared spectrum. This form of heat transfer also removes heat from objects.

These are the waves that we can “see” using thermal camera, or that ar detected using contactless thermometer.

For further reading check out “Black body radiation”