What is 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]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2S6XV8dsIAC&pg=PA216|title=Astronomy: Principles and Practice, Fourth Edition (PBK)|last1=Roy|first1=A. E.|last2=Clarke|first2=D.|date=2003|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-7503-0917-2|language=en}}</ref> 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 == {{reflist}} [[Category:Temperature]] {{sci-stub}}