Why do stars twinkle?
Answer
The change in optical density of air due to the different atmospheric layer causes twinkling of stars.
- The twinkling of stars occurs due to atmospheric refraction of star's light.
- The Optical Density of Air varies continuously in the different layers of the atmosphere.
- Due to the varying optical densities of air, starlight is refracted multiple times through the atmosphere before it reaches our eyes.
- As air in the atmosphere moves, this refracted light also shifts, causing shifts in the image of the stars that we see.
- Hence, the image of the stars in our eyes changes continuously and stars appear to twinkle .