What atmospheric characteristic distinguishes the light of a planet like Venus from that of a distant star?
Answer
Planets display a steady light, while stars twinkle due to atmospheric turbulence.
Because planets appear as tiny disks rather than perfect points of light, their illumination is less susceptible to disruption by turbulent air pockets, known as 'seeing conditions,' which cause distant stars to twinkle.
Related Questions
What is the most common identity of the very bright light seen low in the western sky shortly after sunset?What combination of factors accounts for Venus's perceived intense brightness from Earth?What atmospheric characteristic distinguishes the light of a planet like Venus from that of a distant star?What is the primary composition of the thick clouds covering Venus that contribute to its high reflectivity?Why is Venus rarely seen high in the sky at midnight?What astronomical event defines the point when Venus maximizes its visibility as the 'evening star' in the west?Besides Venus, which other two planets can sometimes appear very bright in the western sky depending on orbital alignment?What distinguishing color is often noted when observing Mars when it appears bright near opposition?What causes Venus to display a cycle of phases as viewed from Earth?What is the most reliable method described for definitively identifying a bright object in the twilight sky?