Sirius – The Multicoloured Twinkling Star
During the winter months and around this time of year. We are able to see the mighty constellation of Orion rise high in the sky. Furthermore, a very bright multicoloured star lies nearby: Sirius – The Dog Star.
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky and as a result, it can easily be found in the faint constellation of Canis Major. Left and below Orion. Its name comes from ancient Greek meaning “glowing” or “scorcher.”
Sirius (a CMa) is the alpha star in this trusty hound and is roughly 8.5 light years away from Earth. Therefore, making it one of the closest stars to us. It has a tiny companion star making it a binary system. Composed of “Sirius A” the main component (which is a white main sequence star) and “Sirius B,” a white dwarf star. When seen with the naked eye, Sirius can appear to twinkle many different colours low in the winter evening sky.
So why does it twinkle?
It’s not just Sirius that twinkles; all stars twinkle. Light travels many light years from stars. Right at the end of that journey, the stars light hits Earth’s atmosphere, which consists of nitrogen, oxygen and other gases.
Earth’s atmosphere is constantly swirling around and wind and air currents etc distort light travelling through it. This causes the light to slightly bend or shimmer and the light from distant stars twinkle. An extreme, more down-to-Earth example of this would be heat rising off of a road or a desert. Causing objects behind it to distort, shimmer and change colour.
Sirius appears to twinkle or shimmer more than other stars due to some very simple reasons. It is very bright, which can amplify atmospheric effects. It is also very low down in the atmosphere as a result of being viewed in the northern hemisphere. We are actually looking at it through a rather dense part of the atmosphere which can be turbulent and contain many different pollutants and dust. The lower toward the horizon an observer is looking, the thicker the atmosphere. The higher an observer is looking, the thinner the atmosphere. This is also the cause of colourful sunrise and sunsets.
This optical illusion is a big pain for astronomers and some very large telescopes. Consequently, telescopes in Chile and Hawaii use special equipment and techniques to reduce the effects of the atmosphere.
The Hubble Space Telescope doesn’t get affected at all by our atmosphere. Due to being in space. Making the light from stars crystal clear.
Twinkle, twinkle little star, now we know what you are (and why you are twinkling!)
i have recorded Sirius i think with blinking and changing colours its amazing! I have it on my youtube.
I got a Celestron SkyMaster pair of binoculars with a tripod in late 2020. I’ been looking at those stars and other planets whenever I see them. They are always twinkling.
I just witness this effect for the first time. I routinely wake up early and every day I walk out to my car I look up to view the night sky. I have seen Sirius many times before but never in It’s disco ball mode. I had to check a star guide app because I couldn’t believe it was Sirius.
Same here. Just Right Now. I was StarGazing a while ago before I researched about its name in Google. From Philippines here. This star seemed like having a disco on its own.
I was outside my back door last night and this star caught my eye! I’ve looked westward many times and have seen a star, but last night is was exceptionally beautiful and multi-colored and shimmering. Through my binoculars it was even more brilliant and gorgeous. I was able to see the small companion star. I actually went in to wake my husband so he could come out and look at it to tell me what it was. He said a “star” then the more he looked at it, he said it didn’t look like any star he’d seen before. It was a beautiful, “heavenly” sight to behold. I appreciate this website. I had no idea of its name – now I know. Thank you for the light show, Sirius! Time for a telescope, I think…
The twinkle, twinkle little star poem seems to lose some its ‘romance’ when you finally understand why it twinkles but either way it is a beautiful poem and prefer the bedtime story reason.
I looked at the sky about 5am and l saw something in the sky which l thinking was a star , but it look like a a arrow of sorts its really hard to describe. So l got my binoculars to see it better it appeared to be moving l thought it was my hand shaking but , l know l have a steady hand this thing was wiggling all around like a connect the dots then in circles. I was like it didnt want me to watch . Im not on any meds. I got my husband up to see it. He said its a ufo ? I will be watching again tmrw . If anyone jas seen something like this please do tell. It was amazing thing to see. I googled it, and it said that some stars dance before winding down ??
Denise, I saw the same thing last night and you’re right, it was a sight to behold. I’ll be watchful tonight as well. I know this star has always been sitting there, but last night it caught my eye with the unusual brilliance. Thank you for sharing your similar story. Woke my husband up, too!
2nd nov 2021 5.13 am woke up to the same thing wondering why so big and bright n colourful ? so i recorded it but like you though i could keep my hands steady as moving all over . i woken my fella us n he said i dont know ufo n fell stright bk to sleep lol. it seems to be really close n big then get really small .
Just seen this star twinkling different colours, it’s amazing, seeing this just outside my back door.
November 3rd and it’s about 1:37 AM Eastern time. I can’t sleep and I look up in the sky and I see this said bright star twinkling in the sky so bright and so colorful. It’s so pretty to look at.
Hard to believe in eternity also… they say the Universe is just so old… hard to believe the big bang… so, what was before the big bang? I am fascinated w/ the Universe. Also, hard to believe, all this for us… but I doubt it is. Has to be other life. Imagine, if you want to think deeper, a planet with no sin. Were Adam didn’t eat the apple, lol. If we land on the moon, mars, other planets, say even 20 others in 100 years, we, humans will land there with sin. Mmm …to deep for ya?
I have a shot of Sirius’s twinkling, spread out by deliberately shaking the tripod. It’s here:
https://flic.kr/p/bnwDdv
I should mention though that someone else did a better one here:
http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2012/01/sirius-twinkling.html
Might be good to add to this story? I certainly give you permission to use mine if you want to.