Stars twinkle because the air we breathe is always moving. When light from a star travels through our atmosphere, it bounces around in different layers of air that are warm or cool. This makes the star appear to flicker, like a candle in the wind.
Imagine a firefly: If you watch a firefly on a windy night, its glow may seem to change as the wind pushes it around. That's similar to how stars twinkle, just much farther away!
Sometimes, if there are clouds or dust in the sky, the twinkling can look more dramatic.
Examples
- A firefly’s glow seems to flicker on a windy night.
- A car light appears to blink as you drive past it in the rain.
- A candle flame seems to dance when the wind blows.
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See also
- What Causes the ‘Glow’ of the Sun at Sunset?
- What Causes the Color of the Sky to Change?
- What Causes the ‘Golden’ Color of a Sunset?
- What Causes the ‘Twilight Zone’ in the Sky?
- What Causes the Sky to Change Colors at Sunset?
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