Why Do Stars Twinkle in the Night Sky?

Stars twinkle because the air we breathe messes with their light. Imagine a flashlight shining through a wobbly curtain, it flickers, right? The same thing happens when starlight passes through Earth's moving air, making the stars look like they're twinkling in the sky.

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Examples

  1. A flashlight shining through a wobbly curtain looks like it’s flickering.
  2. A bubble in a glass of water makes the light behind it look distorted and changing.
  3. The sun seems to shimmer on a hot road because the air is moving unevenly.

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Categories: Space · Stars,Atmosphere,Light