2007-03-16 18:20:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Stars twinkle because their light passes through various levels of our atmosphere, as the air moves at different levels or layers, the light is bent, which looks like twinkling to those of us on the ground? Pictured from space, do you think stars twinkle?
If you were aboard the space shuttle or International Space Station, you would not see the stars twinkle.
The light from planets also travels through that same atmosphere to you, but light from the wider disks of planets is not as disturbed as the changes between atmospheric levels cancel each other out. That's why, as seen from Earth, planets shine with a steady light.
2007-03-16 18:21:17 · answer #1 · answered by spaceprt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you notice, all stars (even planets) seem to twinkle in the sky. This is caused by the unevenness of our atmosphere. It's like looking at a reflection on water. Try looking at a star or planet through a set of binoculars or a telescope. The color of them seems to shift a little, even with such devices and you can't decide if their hue is more towards the blue or the red. This is that "twinkle" you are wondering about.
2007-03-17 01:35:02 · answer #2 · answered by Marko Polo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All star shine is distorted by the atmosphere. If you look from the space station the stars wouldn't twinkle.
2007-03-17 01:23:43 · answer #3 · answered by smoothie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All stars twinkle, due to the distance and atmospheric interference. Planets don't twinkle because to their close proximity.
2007-03-17 01:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by scp98k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALL stars twinkle. Some twinkle "dull". God will have a talk with them later tonight.
2007-03-17 01:23:24 · answer #5 · answered by Debi in LA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you look at a star and it's twinkling, you're looking at it through two layers of atmosphere which are different temperatures. You ever look at a blacktop in the summertime? It looks like like there's a wave above it, or water. It's kinda like that.
2007-03-17 01:23:24 · answer #6 · answered by ♀♥♂☮Trippy Hippie☮♂♥♀ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the heat and gases (mostly moisture) cause twinkling. Go to the desert, death valley for example, and see stars that twinkle very little. It's amazing.
2007-03-17 01:23:32 · answer #7 · answered by DayinthePark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that twinkle you see is actually gases in our atmosphere distorting the light from the star. kind of like ripples in a pond, distorting your reflection.
2007-03-17 01:23:18 · answer #8 · answered by wrldzgr8stdad 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is a light reflection
2007-03-17 01:22:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you're pissed....apparently.
If not, you have a problem.
Hope that helps.
2007-03-17 01:29:49 · answer #10 · answered by Graham W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋