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scintillation
1. The twinkling of a point source of light as a result of the turbulence of the atmosphere through which the source's light passes.
2. The twinkling of the stars caused when changes in the density of the earth's atmosphere produce uneven refractions of starlight.
3. A rapid variation in the light of a celestial body caused by turbulence in the earth's atmosphere; a twinkling.
This entry is located in the following unit: Astronomy and related astronomical terms (page 23)