The Wobbly Air Between Us and the Stars
Stars don’t twinkle on their own. What happens is, their light has to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere to reach our eyes. The atmosphere is full of moving air, temperature changes, and tiny bits of dust. As starlight travels through it, the air bends and shakes the light in different directions. That makes the stars look like they’re twinkling.
Why Planets Don’t Twinkle the Same Way
Stars are so far away that they appear as tiny points of light. Planets, on the other hand, are closer and show up as small disks in the sky. Their light doesn’t bend as much, so they usually shine steadily. That’s how you can sometimes tell the difference between a star and a planet just by looking.
FAQs
Q: Do stars twinkle in space, too?
A: No. In space, there’s no air to bend the light, so stars shine steadily without twinkling.
Q: Why do stars seem to twinkle more on windy nights?
A: Wind moves the air around more, which bends the light even more and makes the twinkling stronger.
