Rocket and Raven stare at two bright dots.
"That one flickers," Raven says. "What do you notice about the other one?"
"It shines steady!" Rocket says.
Nova hums. "Hint: stars and planets often look different in this way."
Stars often twinkle.
Planets usually shine with a steady light.
Stars are so far away that they look like tiny points.
Moving air bends their light, so they seem to flicker.
Planets are closer, so their light looks steadier.
| Twinkle fact | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Stars often twinkle. | ? |
| Planets usually shine steadily. | ? |
| Moving air can make starlight flicker. | ? |
| Planets are farther away than the stars. | ? |
The twinkle test is a helpful clue.
Stars often twinkle. Planets usually shine steady.
Usually means most of the time, not every time.
So use more than one clue.
Brightness and wandering are clues too.
You did the twinkle test! Tomorrow we learn why planets are called wanderers.