Gazing at the night sky, one might often notice the fascinating phenomenon of scintillation. Stars, particularly the brightest and lowest on the horizon, appear to pulsate and even change colors, transitioning from blue to red in mere moments. Surprisingly, this intriguing effect has little to do with the stars themselves, as their brightness, while variable, does not fluctuate so drastically or rapidly.
The Real Culprit: Earth's Atmosphere
The Role of Atmospheric Layers and Light Wavelengths
When a star is positioned low on the horizon, its light passes through more atmospheric layers than a star directly above us, resulting in more pronounced disturbances to its light. The impact on starlight images also depends on the light's color or wavelength. Blue light is affected differently than red light, which explains why a low-hanging star not only appears to pulsate but also unpredictably changes color.
Conclusion
Image credit: NASA, ESA, and T. Brown (STScI)
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