how many times does alpha centauri twinkle?

Question

see title question. or does it twinkle at all?

Thanks for all the answers. Can someone please elaborate on how and why atmospheric conditions affect the twinkling? Even if it is an illusion, does it twinkle quite fast in a minute (around 60 seconds)? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi, how are you doing?

Alpha Centauri only appears as a single dot to the naked eye...and it's not just one star but a system of three stars. It's twinkling varies depending upon the conditions of our atmosphere and the time it takes for its light to hit the Earth.

This link should help, below.

Answer 2

The twinkling is caused by Earth's atmosphere as the light from Alpha Centauri reaches the ground. Air currents, moisture, and many other atmospheric processes slightly distort the incoming light to make it look like the star is 'twinkling'.

Another reason could be solar activities on Alpha Centauri itself: solar flares or other solar activities could cause the stars brightness to change rapidly for a short period of time, causing a twinkle effect.

With all these factors it would be extremely difficult, almost impossible, to predict how many times it would appear to twinkle.

Answer 3

Twinkling of stars is caused by disturbances in the earth's atmosphere, it is not part of the star itself. So the more still the air (not just at the surface but also high-level) the less twinkling.

Answer 4

the star itself does not twinkle. if we looked at i above the atmosphere it would seem constant. it is our atmosphere that makes the stars twinkle. some binary systems sort of twinkle when one star goes behind the other (see mira for example) but alpha centauri is not like that.

Answer 5

Stars don't twinkle. It looks that way be cause of incredible distance and the actions of our atmosphere.

Answer 6

It doesn't twinkle at all. Stars don't twinkle.