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The warmest part of JWST is still hotter (41 $^\circ$C) than me. What I don't understand is where it became so hot (it's been well over 50 $^\circ$C for a long time), and why the hottest point doesn't cool faster.

Is there a napkin friendly calculation to understand how much heat escapes JWST?

Fred
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Captain Giraffe
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  • It’s been sitting in direct sunlight for several weeks… – Peter Erwin Feb 12 '22 at 00:44
  • @PeterErwin And never in the shade. – David Hammen Feb 12 '22 at 01:23
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    The effective equilibrium temperature of a flat plane that is always face-on to the Sun with the same albedo as the Earth and that orbits about 1 AU from the Sun is $\sqrt 2$ times the absolute effective equilibrium temperature of the Earth. That makes that flat plane have an effective equilibrium temperature of about 360 kelvins, or about 87° C. – David Hammen Feb 12 '22 at 01:23
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    I think that already constitutes 60% of an answer, if not a full one @DavidHammen – planetmaker Feb 12 '22 at 09:00

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