The space is very cold. The temperature of outer space is barely above absolute zero, which is the point at which the motion of the atoms stops.
But this temperature is not constant throughout the solar system. So-called "empty" space — though it is not actually empty — is far colder than planets, moons or asteroids, for example, because there is (practically) nothing to absorb the energy coming from the sun.
So, not including regular "empty" space, what is the coldest place in the solar system? And how does it compare with temperatures on Earth?
The final James Webb Space Telescope instrument has a very cold operating temperature.
Let's take a moment to think about how the temperatures are taken.
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Ian Crawford, a professor of planetary science and Astrobiology at the University of London, told Live Science in an email that temperatures can be measured by observing the intensity of microwave radiation emitted from surfaces.
It isn't always easy to take cosmic measurements. Don Pollacco, a professor of astronomy at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, says that nothing is ever straightforward in astronomy because you are always observing.
There are accurate ways to measure temperatures in space, but there will always be room for improvement.
So, with those points in mind, what is the coldest place in the solar system, at least according to current data? Pluto, perhaps, given its distance from the sun?
In fact, the coldest place might be much closer to home.
The data presented by the lunar observatory suggested that shadowed craters at the lunar south pole could be the most frigid place in the solar system.
The theory was reinforced by graduate student Patrick O'Brien and his adviser. During a talk at the lunar and planetary science conference, O'Brien and Byrne suggested that the moon craters could be the lowest point in the solar system.
The crater can be considered doubly shadowed if it is protected from both direct solar illumination and secondary heating sources.
Pollacco said that craters have high enough rims that sunlight never reaches the floor, which is why they are so cold.
The craters of these regions have been shadowed by the sun for billions of years and may contain micro-cold traps.
The craters are estimated to have a temperature of 25 kelvins, but they could be colder.
Crawford is confident in the veracity of the research. "I'm sure these are the coldest temperatures in the inner solar system [from Mercury to Mars] and also colder than the estimated average surface temperature of Pluto," he said.
The average surface temperature of Pluto, for context, is 40.4 kelvins, which is minus 386.95 F or minus 232.75 C, according to NASA.
Crawford said that the moon craters may not be as cold as the Oort cloud. The distinction depends on whether we include the Oort cloud.
The Oort cloud is considered to be the most distant region of our solar system by NASA. It is sometimes considered part of the solar system and at other times a boundary between our solar system and the outside world. According to ThePlanets.org, the Oort cloud isloosely bound to the solar system.
The Oort cloud could be as cold as 5 kelvins ( minus 450.67 F or minus 268.15 C), which would be far colder than any temperature found on our moon.
If we don't include the Oort cloud, the solar system is very likely to be found on our nearest neighbor.
The Oort cloud and the moon's craters are both warm on Earth. On July 21, 1983, the Vostok research station in Antarctica registered a temperature of minus 128.6 F.
In the Oort cloud, scientists have created temperatures that are lower than those that occur on Earth. A team of German researchers broke the record for the lowest temperature in a laboratory, which was minus 459.67 F, by dropping magnetized gas down a tower.
Depending on how you classify the Oort cloud, the dark part of our moon seems to have the lowest temperature in our solar system.
It was originally published on Live Science.
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