Why Stars Twinkle—and Why Planets Usually Look Steadier
Understand how moving air distorts starlight, why planets often appear steadier and why twinkling alone is an imperfect way to identify a light in the sky.
Open a window
A wider world of stories.
Explore remarkable places, memorable careers and nature in unexpected settings.
Space
Meteor, Meteoroid or Meteorite? Three Names for Different Stages
Separate a small object in space, its bright atmospheric passage and a surviving fragment on the ground, with a clear guide to meteor-shower observations.
Read the story ↗Across the world
14 stories
Buster Keaton and the Art of Visual Comedy
Buster Keaton’s visual comedy depends on space, objects and precise audience knowledge. Explore Sherlock Jr. and The General beyond the familiar expressionless face.