How to tell what temperature a glowing object

(metals) might be:

It doesn't really matter what the emitter is...stainless steel, cast iron, tungsten in your light
bulb, the temps are about the same for a given color. Generally accepted colors/temps are:

----- ---- Color

400 -- 752 -- Red heat, visible in the dark

474 -- 885 -- Red heat, visible in the twilight
525 -- 975 -- Red heat, visible in the daylight
581 -- 1077 - Red heat, visible in the sunlight
700 -- 1292 - Dark red
800 -- 1472 - Dull cherry-red
900 -- 1652 - Cherry-red
1000 - 1832 - Bright cherry-red
1100 - 2012 - Orange-red

C= Centigrade
F= Farenheit

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Approximate Temperature of Steel by Colour
Colour of Metal Degrees C Degrees F

Feint Straw 200 390

Very Faint Yellow 210 410

Light Yellow 220 430

Pale Straw Yellow 230 445

Golden Yellow/Dark Straw 240 465

Dark Yellow Brown 250 480

Brown Yellow/Purple 260 500

Brown Purple 270 520

Dark Purple 285 545

Full Blue 290 555

Dark Blue 300 570

Very Dark Blue 315 600

Greyish Blue 330 625

Dark Grey 427 800

Black Red/Red-grey 537 1000

Brown Red 600 1110

Blood Red 650 1200

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 Colour of Metal Degrees C Degrees F

Dark Cherry Red 715 1320

Medium Cherry Red 770 1420

Full Cherry Red 815 1500

Bright Orange Red 843 1550

Light Red 875 1610

Orange 930 1705

Orange Yellow 990 1815

Dark yellow 1050 1920

Bright Yellow 1093 2000

Light Yellow 1100 2010

White 1200 2190

Beginning to sparkle 1400 2550

Melting N/A 1500 2730

Steel exhibits different colours depending on temperature.

Temperatures below 800°F (427°C) produce oxidation colours.
Temperatures above 800°F (427°C) produce incandescent colours
As the steel is heated, an oxide layer forms on the surface; its thickness (and thus the
interference colour as light is reflected) is a function of temperature. These colours may
be used in determining the temperature of the steel, when for example tempering tool
steel.
The melting point of mild steel (0.1%~0.2% Carbon) is approximately 1500°C (2730°F),
and a bit higher for the various alloy steels. The MP of these steels depends on the
composition and quantity of the alloying metal.

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