Page 117 - How It Works - Book Of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, Volume 05-15

Space

Why do stars twinkle?

tars twinkle when it appears there are density. As starlight passes through the Astronomers compensate for
S variations in their brightness. atmosphere, it’s refracted, or slightly atmospheric scintillation by using special
Astronomers call this phenomenon alters direction, creating a twinkling adaptive optics on the most sophisticated
atmospheric scintillation, and it’s caused effect. Atmospheric scintillation is more telescopes. Space-based observatories
by motion in the atmosphere. Specifically, obvious when viewing stars closer to the like the Hubble also allow us to view
changes in atmospheric temperature horizon, because there’s a thicker layer stars and other objects without
cause small fluctuations in the air’s of atmosphere. atmospheric scintillation.

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