Effective temperature
The effective temperature of an astronomical body like a star or a planet is the temperature of a black body that would emit the same total amount of electromagnetic radiation.[1] Effective temperature is often used as an estimate of a body's surface temperature when the body's emissivity curve (as a function of wavelength) is not known.
When the star's or planet's net emissivity in the relevant wavelength band is less than that of a black body, the actual temperature of the body will be higher than the effective temperature. The net emissivity may be low due to surface or atmospheric properties, including the greenhouse effect.
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Roy, A. E.; Clarke, D. (2003). Astronomy: Principles and Practice, Fourth Edition (PBK). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-7503-0917-2.
