Stars changing colour?

malef!c

malef!c

malef!c

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27 Jun 2006
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Ok - this is a bit odd but probably has a very simple answer that you clever people will tel me :)

Last few nights there has been a star that we can see from the bedroom window that flickers and it appears to change colour now and again - blue, red and very bright white instead of the normal star white colour (no I haven't had a beer!)

Anyway, tried to take a movie clip of it on the camera (see it here - 1.8Mb) and it doesn't flicker that much.

It starts a bit blue then flickers a bit and ends up bright white.

Apologies about the dodgy quality of the clip (and my farmer accent) - I was trying to hang out of the window with the camera on max zoom so it wobbles a lot.

Anyway, question is - do starts change colour or appear to or is this the end of the world as the asteroid approaches ;)

Will try to get the nippers telescope out tomorrow for a better look - just inquisitive thats all!!

Cheers
M.
 
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aardvark said:
yup - an atmospheric effect, nothing else.
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The temperature of a star, too. As a star uses its fuels it burns different elements. For example aa star that has ran out of hydrogen and begins to burn helium will burn at a different temperature - different temperatures burn at different colours.
 
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Sinque said:
The temperature of a star, too. As a star uses its fuels it burns different elements. For example aa star that has ran out of hydrogen and begins to burn helium will burn at a different temperature - different temperatures burn at different colours.
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yeah but that would take many millions of years - its not going to change as you look at it!
 
Sinque said:
The temperature of a star, too. As a star uses its fuels it burns different elements. For example aa star that has ran out of hydrogen and begins to burn helium will burn at a different temperature - different temperatures burn at different colours.
Click to expand...

Yes but you would have to be standing staring at the same point for multiple years to see that sort of change... wave lengths disspates in space streching out the lengh,
 
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