Why Do Stars Twinkle?

Stars twinkle because the air in our atmosphere moves around. When light from a star travels through the sky, it goes through layers of warm and cool air that move like waves. This makes the light bend or wobble, so we see it flicker, just like when you look at something across a hot road on a summer day.

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Examples

  1. A star looks like it’s blinking because the air is wobbly.
  2. It's like looking at a candle flame through a moving curtain.
  3. Stars twinkle when you're outside on a cool night.

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Categories: Space · Stars· Light· Atmosphere· Optics