sometimes in the sky, u can see some start that twinkle more than other. that is they appear more brighter than other... i was just wondering why it's like this????
2006-12-14 06:41:15 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
There are three answers to this...
#1 Distance...the closer to the earth, the probability of it being bigger and brighter to your eye
#2 Is it a star or a planet you are seeing...distant planets look like stars in the sky, but they don't twinkle. Stars are balls of fiery, burning gas and the twinkling you see is the flickering of flames. If a star is not twinkling, it is a planet. Planets shine at night because they are reflecting the light of their sun, so no twinkle.
#3 The type of star...stars (which are the same thing as a sun, its just that our planet doesn't rotate around them) come in various sizes and intensities. They get smaller, hotter and more dense as they die (every star eventually burns out as it burns up the gas that is used as fuel for its flames, including our own sun...but don't worry, it won't happen in your lifetime). When they die, they "become" black holes. So the size and intensity of the star in its life cycle will also affect the brightness, size and twinkling you see
2006-12-14 06:51:04 · answer #1 · answered by nexgenjenith 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, first, previous dude. You got it backwards. Stars DO twinkle. It's the planets that don't twinkle. You gotta stop sleeping in class so much. Anyway, yes, partly it's the atmosphere that makes them seem to twinkle more, but they "twinkle" because stars are little suns. They're on fire. It's the fire bursts you're seeing that are the twinkles too. As far as some stars seeming bigger than others, that is because of each star's size and its distance from the earth.
2006-12-14 14:54:23 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The twinkling of a star is due to the atmospheric refraction of starlight. Star light travels from rarer to denser medium (hot to cold) so the atmosphere bends the star light towards the normal. That's why it appears slightly higher than the actual position of star when viewed from the horizon.
But the apparent position of the star doesn't remain stationary as the physical conditions of the atmosphere are always changing. Therefore the apparent position of the star fluctuates and the path of rays coming from the star varies slightly.Thus the star light entering the eye fluctuates (increases or decreases randomly with time. ) Due to the light flux entering the eye the star appears brighter sometimes, and at others fainter. The fluctuating apparent position of the star causes the twinkling .
Now you may ask why plants don't twinkle.? Its because they are not as distant as the stars. Stars can be considered as a point source of light where as the plants can be considered as many source of light such that they nullify the twinkling effect. Hence, turbulent atmosphere is unable to cause sufficient variations of star light entering our eye.
2006-12-14 14:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by ♥chelley♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stars twinkle because of turbulence in the atmosphere. the closer they are to the horizon, the more they twinkle.
2006-12-14 14:44:44 · answer #4 · answered by Magick Kitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He didn't listen well in 8th grade. Stars do twinkle and planets don't.
2006-12-14 15:05:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
stars don't twinkle.....planets twinkle...thats what my 8th grade science teacher told me anyway
2006-12-14 14:49:43 · answer #6 · answered by bgbadwolf27 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the other ones are bigger
2006-12-14 14:55:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋