I'd be happy to be told I'm wrong, but isn't it a myth that planets don't twinkle? I thought the twinkling of stars was caused by the light being diffracted as it passes through our atmosphere. Wouldn't that happen to planets just like it happens to stars?
no, planets dont twinkle in the way that stars do. this is because the planets are very close to us and appear much bigger in our sky - bigger than the pockets of atmosphere that bend the light of stars in different directions.
many have written in more detail about this, so i will send you over to phil plait's excellent explanation here: http://www.badastronomy.com/bitesize/twinkle.html
3 comments:
where is the option: does it move in a straight line?
Ufo's sometimes make the most iradic movements. I can not use the schematic to identify those.
I'd be happy to be told I'm wrong, but isn't it a myth that planets don't twinkle? I thought the twinkling of stars was caused by the light being diffracted as it passes through our atmosphere. Wouldn't that happen to planets just like it happens to stars?
hi charlie,
no, planets dont twinkle in the way that stars do. this is because the planets are very close to us and appear much bigger in our sky - bigger than the pockets of atmosphere that bend the light of stars in different directions.
many have written in more detail about this, so i will send you over to phil plait's excellent explanation here: http://www.badastronomy.com/bitesize/twinkle.html
hope that convinces you that it's true!
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