why do planets do not twinkle?
Asked by science field | 19th Dec, 2013, 08:16: PM
Expert Answer:
Planets are very close to us as compared to the distance between stars and earth. They appear as small discs of light (the reflected light from the sun). Each tiny point in this disc can be considered as point sources of light. These different points produce either brighter or dimmer effect in such a way that the average of brighter and dimmer effect is zero. Hence, the twinkling effects of the planets are nullified and they do not twinkle.
In a very turbulent weather a planet may appear to twinkle because of the disturbance in the air through which the light is travelling.
Planets are very close to us as compared to the distance between stars and earth. They appear as small discs of light (the reflected light from the sun). Each tiny point in this disc can be considered as point sources of light. These different points produce either brighter or dimmer effect in such a way that the average of brighter and dimmer effect is zero. Hence, the twinkling effects of the planets are nullified and they do not twinkle.
In a very turbulent weather a planet may appear to twinkle because of the disturbance in the air through which the light is travelling.
Answered by Faiza Lambe | 20th Dec, 2013, 09:12: AM
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