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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30726
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Only add details that are relevant. If the temperature point of -25c will play a factor for later when it warms up to say 10c, then ya specific temperatures may be needed. However if you only want to create the image of it being a cold place, you don't need to specify temperature.

I have read some Sci-Fi books where they had a back matters that placed a lot of this sort of information for anyone who was curious. That way the details are still a part of the book for the more avid science fan, while keeping the actual novel fiction/fantasy friendly.

Also you don't want to go into too much detail. Part of the fun as a reader is being able to visualize the story. If you start adding in so much detail, so much description, that I have to sit there and think about your list of details to the point it takes away from the reading flow, you have too much.

Give enough detail to allow the reader to understand the setting, while allowing the reader to fill in the gaps themselves. Think of it like a coloring book. You, as the writer provide the outlines and images while the reader colors in the image as they choose. A reader could color a pig green, or purple, or red. Totally different from the image you had while drawing the outline imaging it pink. But that's okay! As long as they know it's a pig, and as long as the skin doesn't need to be pink for story development, the color can be any color the reader wants.

Original score: 13