Sirius

[my-thyme]

I'm seldom outside this late at night, just happened to be tonight.

In the eastern sky there is a huge star, and it twinkles! Had to look it up. Sirius.

Really amazing.

 

[SamSpade]

Yup. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.

 

[Kyle]

If we're fortunate, Betelgeuse will, one day in our lifetimes, get REALLY bright.

 

[Kinnakeet]

I thought that was Mars or Saturn

 

[Sneakers]

I thought that was Mars or Saturn

Star, not planet.

 

[gemma_rae]

Some time ago I learned that stars "twinkle" because they emit their own light. Planets do not because they merely reflect the light from stars.

I'm sure most people here already know that though. It was a revelation for me at the time.

 

[gemma_rae]

See the twinkle in his eye?

 

[Sneakers]

Some time ago I learned that stars "twinkle" because they emit their own light. Planets do not because they merely reflect the light from stars.

I'm sure most people here already know that though. It was a revelation for me at the time.

The term is 'scintillation'.

In scientific terms, scintillation (twinkling) is caused by refraction of starlight as it travels through columns and layers of moving air in our atmosphere - each layer having differing temperatures, densities, and speeds (Fig. 1). This is turbulence.

 

[gemma_rae]

The term is 'scintillation'.

I learned something today!

Thanks Sneakers!