why do stars twinkle?

Philippines
November 26, 2006 10:26am CST
elementary my dear pupils
5 responses
• Philippines
27 Nov 06
kk - kk
The scientific name for the twinkling of stars is stellar scintillation (or astronomical scintillation). Stars twinkle when we see them from the Earth's surface because we are viewing them through thick layers of turbulent (moving) air in the Earth's atmosphere. Stars (except for the Sun) appear as tiny dots in the sky; as their light travels through the many layers of the Earth's atmosphere, the light of the star is bent (refracted) many times and in random directions (light is bent when it hits a change in density - like a pocket of cold air or hot air). This random refraction results in the star winking out (it looks as though the star moves a bit, and our eye interprets this as twinkling). Stars closer to the horizon appear to twinkle more than stars that are overhead - this is because the light of stars near the horizon has to travel through more air than the light of stars overhead and so is subject to more refraction. Also, planets do not usually twinkle, because they are so close to us; they appear big enough that the twinkling is not noticeable (except when the air is extremely turbulent). Stars would not appear to twinkle if we viewed them from outer space (or from a planet/moon that didn't have an atmosphere).
• Philippines
27 Nov 06
Maraming salamat for the info. #1 response goes to you.
• Philippines
27 Nov 06
Maraming salamat for the info. #1 response goes to you.
• Philippines
27 Nov 06
Maraming salamat for the info. #1 response goes to you.
@minxy67 (2707)
18 Dec 06
My little girl thinks that stars twinkle because they are all the people in heaven watching down and looking after us.
• Philippines
18 Dec 06
yes. i just remembered Simba (Lion King) thank you for replying
• Philippines
29 Nov 06
Starry, starry night - i feel like i'm a star!
there's a simple explanation on that and no scientific blah blah involved. Stars twinkle because of....ME!!!! harharhar see my avatar, i twinkle like a star, lol! good day to you, RAM:)
• Philippines
2 Dec 06
your avatar, is that the lil girl from the movie "Monster Inc"? Thanks for your response.
@abagslife (1212)
• Italy
27 Nov 06
because of gases on athmosphere
• Philippines
28 Nov 06
thanks for your response
@kage2k3 (1443)
• India
27 Nov 06
because of the air in atmosphere
• Philippines
28 Nov 06
thanks for replying