How to use the planetary equilibrium temperature calculator
Estimate a planet's equilibrium temperature. Enter solar constant, albedo in the fields above; the equilibrium temperature, equilibrium temperature are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- S — Solar constant (W/m²)
- a — Albedo
Worked example
With solar constant = 1361 W/m², albedo = 0.3, the calculator gives equilibrium temperature ≈ 254.5781 K; equilibrium temperature ≈ -18.57186 °C.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the planetary equilibrium temperature calculation?
Equilibrium temperature (K) = (S × (1-a) / (4 × SIGMA))^0.25. Equilibrium temperature (°C) = [Equilibrium temperature]-273.15. Here S is solar constant (W/m²), a is albedo.
What inputs do I need for the planetary equilibrium temperature calculator?
You need solar constant in W/m², albedo. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.