Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

Question:  A second grade student would like to know do astronauts 
use the celsius temperature scale in outer space?
 pleasant lane

Answer 1:  Yes! Most scientists and engineers use the Celsius 
temperature scale. It is easier for them to use in their work.
-dr topper
 
Answer 2:
Just an added note; in doing calculations, a lot of work is
done using a temperature scale called the Kelvin scale,
which has the useful property of giving a positive temperature
to all everyday physical objects (temperatures can be negative
on the Celsius scale). In fact, the international temperature
standard is the Kelvin scale, and the Celsius scale is
defined in terms of it:
 
T(degrees Kelvin) = T(degrees Celsius) + 273.15
 
Thus, the boiling temperature of water, which is at 100 degrees
Celsius, is also at 373.15 degrees Kelvin.
 
Just an afterthought
-dr topper