Question

Why stars twinkle, but not the planets?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Unlike stars, planets don't twinkle. Stars are so distant that they appear as pinpoints of light in the night sky, even when viewed through a telescope. Because all the light is coming from a single point, its path is highly susceptible to atmospheric interference (i.e. their light is easily diffracted).

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Answer 2

We all know that stars twinkle but planets don't. But, before I answer the question, it's important to know a few things.

Luminous and Non-luminous objects

Luminous objects are those objects that produce their own light. For example: stars, a bulb, or a tube-light are all luminous objects.

Non-luminous objects are those objects that don't produce their own light, but, reflect light from other sources. For example: moons, planets, a book, or a pen.

Refraction

Refraction is the phenomenon where a beam of light from a luminous object moves either towards or away from the normal when it enters from rarer to denser or denser to rarer medium respectively.

Why do stars twinkle but planets don't?

This is because of 2 reasons:

1. Stars are luminous objects that produce their own light but planets are non-luminous objects that reflect light from stars.
2. The earth is surrounded by a thick blanket of air called the atmosphere, which acts as a denser medium for the beam of light coming from the stars, causing refraction towards the normal.

Thus, stars twinkle but planets don't.