Why do Stars Twinkle

20 May, 2025 Credit: Pexels

Atmospheric Refraction

[{"selector":"#anim-c5945504-b2b3-4eb5-b566-61c7040246b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c03ecf7-a7a8-44b6-a1de-786d9c12d1d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 216.72770%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56ee0a2b-8c8e-46d2-8c3b-0ad8fb50b2ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb239b99-a1be-4389-8f67-bbb0cdde06bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 442.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51949076-b6a0-431f-8372-9007adf1e1d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f69fbd1-4739-47db-b445-fdac487c93cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 836.20085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb65c94b-2c97-40c0-8302-149099046b73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1808671f-ace8-4103-8516-5f03461c533d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -748.24954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3720452-0066-436d-8b2f-eba018463566 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.453416293096112%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Earth's atmosphere is made up of layers of air with different temperatures and densities, which affect how light travels. Credit: Pexels

Light Path Fluctuations

[{"selector":"#anim-3a3d92ef-efbe-4a2f-ae05-5b36a171949e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.801740071052365%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-145e244d-1fc7-4ffb-8a9d-5c771bd0cc28","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91d57abc-e2f2-4c6b-b129-e4b343090c8f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 178.95770%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3784140-782e-44f9-a417-11bee7dde8f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab27e439-aded-4399-8f59-d6a568d3951c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98868593-1a48-4b3f-8341-a69b1e312f1d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db36754b-fecc-4b65-b0e4-b61edfeefc72","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 836.20085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97c21d79-4504-427e-8309-2755b5943038","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4460ce58-529d-4195-bd30-dd5fea499cbd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -748.24954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As starlight passes through these layers, it bends slightly, and this bending changes constantly due to the movement and turbulence of the air. Credit: Pexels

Apparent Position Changes

[{"selector":"#anim-85a12169-f743-491f-905e-1d4c01eb2570 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-6.16842813051997%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-388947f8-81d7-4001-973e-a314a8cdb223","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d14e074-f250-46de-91bb-2162537274e6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 198.04637%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af613426-3bbc-4e3b-a4f3-f5b426540a0f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18b7e2cf-ffc3-4a87-8120-6cfe5039fa37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00ef83fa-72f1-4b70-9584-ba5b31e18aa0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d4ba0f6-df94-4b1d-9f26-7fc98a476ff9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 447.90533%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95c1ca9c-78d7-42a7-a97b-1a27d7241cad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6aba373e-a3b3-4f15-b204-7a2716837b7d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -748.24954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The apparent position of the star changes as the light's path is altered by these atmospheric fluctuations. Credit: Pexels

Brightness Fluctuations

[{"selector":"#anim-5e8a14c4-2c7b-4f80-84cd-aa843d611a69 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(18.858754945200715%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-746ddeaa-24e3-4ad2-8c35-e84065df4031","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bea91e5-0f88-4e59-8559-3b545c8fc2a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.64799%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b76e8737-e4fd-41f8-b1c2-155eaf0c3773","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d38b40b9-39ed-4b96-9b13-4785692154c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a1c6986-0ed0-49b6-8ad7-64323ad27604","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a3facb2-b586-42c9-bfc4-ea05d2a492d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 816.84609%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36acb6b5-a565-4f50-b185-8f0d2c94b1dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb1f77a7-492a-4674-9e83-ce25d0f30413","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -748.24954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The amount of starlight reaching your eyes also fluctuates, causing the star to appear to brighten and dim slightly, creating the twinkling effect. Credit: Pexels

Why Planets Don't Twinkle as Much

[{"selector":"#anim-43460949-4def-4bc5-967c-f9003ce4aaf7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.003114515082505%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8be1e22-0019-4b28-bf62-8d065687c331","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86a228f6-3cf5-4c86-821d-f08f181d0cea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.69948%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5046918a-129c-48bc-8172-3c5d89c9dab3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8da7d41-6302-4427-95ad-31008e3e8457","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 218.95405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53e9d846-cfd8-4b04-8001-b2f69d66ef1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47cc9d7e-3fb4-4076-b128-b99ac2285b9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 465.93807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3206c05-337b-4f8e-b600-9867d2f82b34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7c49b19-d694-48a0-b0f9-65bcdad6971f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -748.24954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Planets appear as tiny disks, and the fluctuations in their light from different parts of the disk tend to cancel each other out, making their light appear more steady compared to point sources like stars. Credit: Pexels

Related Stories Mango Horchata: 6-Step Recipe Be Here Now: How Mindfulness Can Ease Modern Worries Daily Horoscope All Zodiac Sign May 20 Psychedelia & Experimental movies of all time