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Old November 23rd 03, 01:33 AM
Kilolani
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Yep... that's Sirius alright. The brightest star in the sky. The way I
understand it, Earth's atmosphere acts like a prism to break up the light.

Other stars that do this:
Canopus (carina)
Rigel Kentarus (alpha centauri)
Arcturus (bootes)
Vega (lyra)
Capella (auriga)
Rigel (orion)

In all cases except Rigel these will be the CLEARLY brightest stars in the
constellation, you can't miss 'em.

"CR" wrote in message
t...

What is breaking
apart the light into component wavelengths? The star's location was

half-way
up from the horizon between the horizon and the constellation Orion,
directly below the belt. It shimmered white, red, green, purplish, blue

and
was brilliant - it happened to be the brightest star in the sky on a very
clear night and I viewed it from the top of a hill with few lights around.
It did twinkle different colors as you suggested