2007-09-12 17:58:38 · 8 answers · asked by Christopher 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I've heard about the twinkling, but I can't tell the difference.
The real way is to watch the path of the object through the sky. The stars all move together, as if the earth is covered with a huge rotating bowl with little holes in it. The planets, though, each have their own path. They have 'retrograde motion', meaning they move forwards a lot, then back a little, then forwards a lot. The word 'planet' comes from an ancient Greek word meaning 'wanderer'.
2007-09-12 18:09:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically with the naked eye, you don't. They all look like a point of light and the all twinkle from atmospheric distortion.
Venus is always easy to spot especially right now when it's so prominent in the eastern sky as the sun comes up. The last few mornings it was still bright long after the sky had turned bright. There was no mistaking it.
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2007-09-12 18:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In practice, twinkling often fails to show a definitive difference between stars and planets. In very steady skies, stars don't twinkle, and in very turbulent skies, everything twinkles, including planets. The best way to identify planets is to become familiar enough with the ecliptic constellations to recognize which bright "stars" are interlopers - those are the planets.
2007-09-12 18:20:09 · answer #3 · answered by injanier 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm no astronomer, but you usually can see the planets at dusk and dawn. Certain ones are out at different times, on occasion. Venus is usually referred to as the "morning star" and Mars as the "evening star". They're usually pretty bright and out there alone before or after the stars are out. Other planets like Saturn make the occasional appearance also. Usually in local newspapers, by the "weather", they mention what's going to be visible and where.
2007-09-12 18:12:09 · answer #4 · answered by Connie B 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
stars look bit smaller than that of the planet.....
so you can differentiate between them very easily......
2007-09-12 18:07:42 · answer #5 · answered by Abhilash r 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Stars Twinkle
Planets dont
2007-09-12 18:04:26 · answer #6 · answered by B. 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
that and planets are often ever so slightly colored around the edges whereas stars are white lights
2007-09-12 18:07:46 · answer #7 · answered by Kate 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
planets don't twinkle
2007-09-12 18:06:52 · answer #8 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋