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From: GMS@psuvm.BITNET
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: StarDate: June 11 Where the Stars Don't Twinkle
Message-ID: <1881GMS@psuvm>
Date: Mon, 24-Jun-85 15:39:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: psuvm.1881GMS
Posted: Mon Jun 24 15:39:46 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 01:40:59 EDT
References: <224@utastro.UUCP> 71@denelvx.UUCP
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Actually, planets will be seen to twinkle if they are near the horizon, or
if the air is extremely unsteady.  (Check out Jupiter or Venus just after
they have risen)  The fact that they normally do not appear to twinkle is
a spinoff of the fact thet they are much nearer to us.  Since they are
relatively close, they present tiny disks which, although not discernable
by naked eye, are significantly larger than the very tiny apparant disks
of the stars.  Thus while the light waves are still refracted about, the
effect is somewhat mediated by the larger apparant disks of the planets.
     
Gerry Santoro
Penn State University
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