When we talk about stars, we’re not talking about movie stars or celebrities. We’re talking about the amazing stars in space! But with so many shiny things up there, how do we know what’s a star and what’s not? Let’s find out!
A star is a bright object in space that shines because it makes energy in its core. The most famous star we know is the Sun. Like the Sun, all stars are huge balls of gas that are very far away from us. There are billions of stars in the universe, but not everything that shines in the sky is a star.
There are other things in space that look like stars but aren’t. Let’s learn about three of them: planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids.
Planets are big, round objects that travel around a star. We live on a planet called Earth, and there are seven other planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. There are also smaller planets called dwarf planets. They are like regular planets but smaller and have a bumpier path around the Sun because of asteroids.
Planets can look brighter than stars because they are closer to Earth. They also move in the sky, so if you watch them over time, you’ll see them change position. Stars are much farther away, so they don’t seem to move as much.
Asteroids are chunks of rock and metal that orbit the Sun. Most of them are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. From Earth, they can look like tiny spots of light. Like planets, asteroids are closer to us than stars, so they are easier to track in the sky. Stars tend to twinkle, while planets and asteroids usually don’t.
To figure out if something is a star, you can look at its brightness, see if it twinkles, and check if it moves compared to other things in the sky. Stars make their own light, while planets and asteroids reflect light from other sources.
Now you know that not everything shiny in the night sky is a star. Real stars are amazing objects that create their own light. So next time you look up at the sky, you’ll know how to spot the real stars among the imposters!
Star Gazing Adventure: On a clear night, go outside with a parent or guardian and look up at the sky. Try to find a star, a planet, and maybe even an asteroid! Use a simple star map or a stargazing app to help you. Can you spot the difference between a star and a planet? Remember, stars twinkle, and planets usually don’t. Draw a picture of what you see and label the stars and planets.
Create Your Own Star: Use a flashlight and some colored cellophane or tissue paper to create your own “star.” Cover the flashlight with the colored paper and turn it on in a dark room. Notice how the light shines through. Imagine this is how a star shines in space. Try using different colors and see how the light changes. Discuss with a friend or family member how this is similar to or different from real stars.
Star vs. Planet Experiment: Gather some small balls (like tennis balls) and a flashlight. In a dark room, shine the flashlight on the balls to see how they reflect light. This is similar to how planets reflect the Sun’s light. Now, imagine the flashlight is a star. Discuss how stars make their own light, while planets only reflect light. Can you think of other things that reflect light, like planets do?
