What quality do pockets of air possess that causes them to bend starlight by a varying amount?
Answer
Varying refractive index
Each pocket of air has a slightly different refractive index, causing it to bend the light passing through it by a minuscule, varying amount.
#Videos
A Strange Blinking Star Is Troubling The Astronomers - YouTube
Related Questions
What is the scientific term for the phenomenon that causes stars to twinkle?What characteristic of Earth's atmosphere causes starlight to appear to flicker?What quality do pockets of air possess that causes them to bend starlight by a varying amount?What process causes white starlight to separate into vibrant colors when passing through atmospheric turbulence?Which color of visible light bends slightly more than red light when passing through the atmosphere?What factor causes stars low on the horizon to exhibit more intense color flashing?Why do planets like Venus or Jupiter typically appear as steady points of light without twinkling?Atmospheric scintillation events occur on what timescale compared to genuine stellar luminosity changes?Which star is often cited as being notorious for multi-colored flashing, especially in winter months when low?What is the primary test an observer can use to distinguish atmospheric scintillation from a true stellar change?