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Why do stars move across the sky?

Updated: 4/28/2022
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6y ago

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They seem to move as the earth turns. Their apparent motion is illusory. They DO actually move, however, but they are so far away that their motion can only be determined over long time periods with very precise instruments.

Keep in mind, however, that all stars are actually moving: stars move around in response to the gravity of other stars and material within and around the galaxy. All the stars are rotating around the center of the galaxy and the galaxy itself is moving in relation to other galaxies. However, almost none of this motion is fast enough over the scale of distance involved for us to notice it within our lifetimes.

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6y ago
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11y ago

The stars do not move across the sky, at least not in the way your question was worded. In reality the Earth rotates, while the stars remain relatively fixed, giving the illusion of moving. To see how things really work, get a swivel chair and place it in the middle of a room. Slowly spin while keeping your head centered to your body. The things in the room appear to be moving past you, however in reality it is you moving while everything else sits still.

Actually, the stars are all moving at different speeds and directions--mostly in the same general direction around the core of our galaxy. So their positions will change with respect to each other. Come back in a hundred thousand years and you will notice that the arm of the big dipper will have scrunched up a bit, and the pan will be similarly distorted. Many other constellations will be difficult to find or completely unrecognizable.

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Continue Learning about Astronomy

Why do patterns of stars in the sky stay the same although they appear to move across the sky nightly?

The patterns appear the same because the stars are so far away that their movement is not apparent to our eyes. They move across the sky because the earth is rotating and that makes it look like the stars are moving. Just like the sun does not move across the sky, the earth rotates and the sun appears to move, the same is with the stars.


Why does it seem that the sun and the stars move across the sky?

The earth is turning


Why do stars appear to move across the sky during the night?

stars don't move across the sky, we orbit the sun, as you should know, and as we orbit the sun we see the stars as moving but in all actuality we are just changing position and seeing the stars at a different perspective


Why does it seem like stars move across the sky?

because the worl is spinning slowly and because the clouds move and make it seem like stars are moving.


The stars appear to move across the sky at night is this true?

YES!!! Because '- #1 the Earth is rotating so it appears that the stars move across the sky. #2 the Stars in their own right also move. Since most stars are so far away their movement is hard to detect. #3 the Planets, appear to be stars, because they are pin point spots of light. The planets move , notably Venus, which can be seen as the Morning Star, or at a different time of the year as the Evening Star. The word 'planet' comes from Classical Greece, and means 'Wandering Star'.

Related questions

What direction did Regulus move across the sky from?

Regulus stars appear to move across the sky from East to West (:


Which way do the stars move across the sky?

east to west


Why do patterns of stars in the sky stay the same although they appear to move across the sky nightly?

The patterns appear the same because the stars are so far away that their movement is not apparent to our eyes. They move across the sky because the earth is rotating and that makes it look like the stars are moving. Just like the sun does not move across the sky, the earth rotates and the sun appears to move, the same is with the stars.


Do the stars and the and sun move across the sky?

They appear to move across the sky because of the position of the viewer on a rotating planet with a moving field of view.


Why does it seem that the sun and the stars move across the sky?

The earth is turning


Who was the first person to explain why the sun and stars move acreoss the sky?

Ellen Kim was the first to explain why the sun and stars move across the sky in 1858


What is a pattern of stars which seems to move across the night sky together called?

A pattern of stars which seems to move across the night sky together is called a constellation. Hope this helped :D


Why do stars appear to move across the sky during the night?

stars don't move across the sky, we orbit the sun, as you should know, and as we orbit the sun we see the stars as moving but in all actuality we are just changing position and seeing the stars at a different perspective


Why do stars and sun move across your sky?

Because of the rotation of the planet and the view.


Why do stares appear to move across the sky during night?

cos some are shooting stars and comets! and stars move around


Do the stars move across the sky?

Yes, stars do move around in the sky, but their apparent motion is very small, such that it would require centuries to note significant change in their positions.


Who is the first astronomer to explain why the sun and stars move across the sky?

Galileo was the first astronomer to explain why the sun and starts travel across the sky