What makes the stars twinkle?
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Why Do Stars Twinkle?
Atmospheric Turbulence and Light Refraction
The primary reason stars twinkle is due to the Earth's atmosphere. As starlight travels through the atmosphere, it encounters varying densities and temperatures in the air, causing the light to bend or refract. This bending of light, known as atmospheric turbulence, results in the star's light appearing to shift and change in brightness, creating the twinkling effect1 3 4 6 7.
Visual Phenomena and Retinal Sensitivity
Interestingly, the twinkling effect can also be linked to visual phenomena within the human eye. The sensitivity of the retina, particularly the foveal region, can vary, causing the perception of twinkling. This can be demonstrated in controlled environments, such as a dark room, where a small light source can mimic the twinkling of stars2.
Interstellar Scintillation
While atmospheric turbulence is the main cause of twinkling observed from Earth, a similar phenomenon can occur on a larger scale in space. When starlight passes through interstellar molecular clouds, it can experience scintillation due to the turbulent nature of these clouds. This effect, although not typically observed at optical wavelengths, can be simulated and studied to understand the modulation of stellar light curves3 5 6 8.
Historical Perspectives
The understanding of why stars twinkle has evolved over time. Historical figures like Newton and Oresme have contributed to the explanation, attributing the twinkling to atmospheric fluctuations. These early theories laid the groundwork for our current understanding of the phenomenon9.
Conclusion
In summary, the twinkling of stars is primarily caused by atmospheric turbulence, which bends the light as it travels to our eyes. This effect can be further influenced by the sensitivity of the human retina and can also occur on a larger scale in space due to interstellar scintillation. Understanding these processes not only explains a common visual phenomenon but also provides insights into the nature of atmospheric and interstellar turbulence.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Why do stars twinkle, and do they twinkle on Mars?
Stars twinkle due to the varying distances between them and the Earth, and they do not twinkle on Mars.
The Twinkling of Stars
The twinkling of stars can be imitated in a dark-room by viewing a small light from the periphery of the retina, with the light appearing to twinkle like a star.
Simulation of optical interstellar scintillation
Current telescopes with fast-readout, wide-field detectors can potentially discover the first interstellar optical scintillation effects, with desynchronized light curves being crucial for distinguishing between variations.
The twinkling of stars
Star twinkling is a result of Earth's atmosphere turbulence, and measurements can reveal insights into the structure of this turbulence.
Does transparent hidden matter generate optical scintillation
Optical scintillation in extra-galactic stars may be caused by molecular hydrogen clouds, potentially revealing hidden matter variations in Galactic molecular clouds.
Search for Turbulent Gas through Interstellar Scintillation
Interstellar Scintillation with the ESO-NTT shows promising results for detecting turbulent gas in Galactic disks and haloes.
Our twinkling sun
This paper presents a method for demonstrating the twinkling of stars during the daytime by detecting audio frequency fluctuations in direct sunlight and presenting the result via headphones or a loudspeaker.
Search for hidden turbulent gas through interstellar scintillation
Interstellar scintillation, a phenomenon caused by distant stars' light crossing a refractive medium, shows promise for detecting hidden turbulent gas in the Galactic-disk or halo.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Star – Using both pointer fingers, point them upwards, at eye level, and slide them against each other, like a shooting star.
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