A light in the sky.

[kongo_totte]

This thread has made me more confused than I was when I posted OP.

[ItalianFX]

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Ok, had to get that apology for my EXTREME RETARDEDness out there right away. Now the explanation.

Stars twinkle because their angular diameter (cross section of the sky they take up, if you will) in the sky is such that they are subject to the debris in the atmosphere and its scattering effects. Planets do not twinkle because their size in the sky is big enough so that their image is not affected by the turbulence.

Things to look up include "seeing", "scintillation" (sp?) and "adaptive optics".

[/ QUOTE ]

That makes sense because we were taught that stars twinkle and planets don't. Planets don't because their size fades out the twinkle and our eyes do not pick it up.

Most of what you said was kind of what I meant, but in less scientific terms.

[siccjay]

You know how I know you are gay?

You are arguing about stars on the internet.

[evank15]

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You know how I know you are gay?

You are arguing about stars on the internet.

[/ QUOTE ]

I fail to see how that's "gay".

But really, this should probably be in SMP.

[ScottHoward]

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Stars don't twinkle.

Venus. Ship it.

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In reality stars don't "twinkle." It is due to the dust and other things in the atmosphere that make it look that way.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are both wrong.

Just . . . stop.

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And how am I wrong?

I'm only suggesting it's Venus, btw.

I certainly know a lot more about astronomy than this donk who "took an astronomy class".

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venus is currently not visible at night
you might be able to catch a glimpse right after sundown, low in the western sky
in a couple months it will be visible during late afternoon (3-4pm ish), high in the sky.

[evank15]

I'll take your word for it. I'm not much of a night sky buff.

[Hold'em 07]

Pulsar's ftw.