Why Do Stars Twinkle?

Told in English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese.

One night, a little child looked up and asked: Why do the stars twinkle?

Up in the sky, a little star heard the question.

I don't know! said the star. I'm not trying to twinkle. I'm just shining!

So the star tried to hold very, very still.

Shine. Steady. Hold still, little star. Don't wobble!

But down on Earth, the child said: You're still twinkling!

The star was puzzled.

Then the Wind came past, laughing. Whooosh!

It's me! said the Wind. Not you, little star!

All the air around the Earth is moving. Wibbling and wobbling and swirling about. And your light has to come all the way down through it.

So your light wibbles a bit. And wobbles a bit.

And from down there, it looks like... twinkling!

The little star laughed. So I'm shining steady all along — and the air is doing the dancing?

That's right, said the Wind.

So now you know, little one. The stars are shining perfectly still, all night long.

It's just our wobbly air, having a dance.

Twinkle, twinkle.