What causes the rapid, multicolored flashing sometimes seen in bright stars?
Answer
The atmosphere refracts different wavelengths (colors) of light at slightly different angles, acting like a prism.
When turbulence is severe, the atmosphere separates the starlight spectrum. Because blue light is typically refracted more than red light, vivid, flashing colors are displayed as the atmosphere shifts the light spectrum.
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What Does It Mean When A Star Is Flickering? - Physics Frontier
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