What is the difference between a star and a planet?

We see many stars in the sky and confuse them with planet. How to make sure which one is a star and a planet.Are they really different ?|||The basic difference between a star and a planet is that a star emits light produced by a nuclear reaction in its core, whereas a planet only shines by the light of the star.





A star contains much more mass than a planet, enough that gravitational forces have compressed the matter enough to start a fusion reaction at the nuclear level, radiating the resultant energy out.





A planet orbits a star in a regular manner. The sum of a star and it's orbiting planets is called a Solar System.





Stars are always much bigger than planets. Also, their content is different. stars are made of mostly hydrogen, which they push together to form helium. this is then pushed together to form other elements which are blown into space. (although one star nicknamed lucy has got alot of carbon in its core, which because of the pressure has formed a diamond which is a billion billion carats.) planets are different. although they may be made of gas, like jupiter, they are different gases to the ones in stars. also, it is actually very unlikely that it is made from gases. it is usually molten iron and rock.





A star is a burning mass of (mainly) hydrogen and helium.


A planet is a body which moves in an orbit around a star.





A planet (of any sort, dwarf or other) is defined as "any celestial body which orbits a star." The earth is a planet.





A star is typically a big, burning, ball of gas around which planets tend to orbit. (except when it goes out, then it is a black hole or a neutron star.) The sun is a star.|||A star contains much more mass than a planet, enough that gravitational forces have compressed the matter enough to start a fusion reaction at the nuclear level, radiating the resultant energy out.





A planet orbits a star in a regular manner. The sum of a star and it's orbiting planets is called a Solar System.





Stars are always much bigger than planets. Also, their content is different. stars are made of mostly hydrogen, which they push together to form helium. this is then pushed together to form other elements which are blown into space. (although one star nicknamed lucy has got alot of carbon in its core, which because of the pressure has formed a diamond which is a billion billion carats.) planets are different. although they may be made of gas, like jupiter, they are different gases to the ones in stars. also, it is actually very unlikely that it is made from gases. it is usually molten iron and rock.





A star is a burning mass of (mainly) hydrogen and helium.


A planet is a body which moves in an orbit around a star.





A planet (of any sort, dwarf or other) is defined as "any celestial body which orbits a star." The earth is a planet.





A star is typically a big, burning, ball of gas around which planets tend to orbit. (except when it goes out, then it is a black hole or a neutron star.) The sun is a star.





Fun fact: The only place gold comes from is supernovas. All gold is made in supernovas.|||From purely observational point, planets move slightly with respect to stars from night to night. Ancient Greeks noticed this and called them "planetoi" which means wanderers.





As for the actual difference between planets and stars, well, where to begin. Stars are giant and luminous balls of plasma that release huge amounts of energy through thermonuclear reactions in their cores. Planets are much smaller, colder, and don't emit their own light. Planets are typically found orbiting a star.





If you want to be sure what you're looking at in the night sky, I recommend a free program for your computer, Stellarium. http://www.stellarium.org|||Well..planets are celestial bodies..incapable of any energy generation...for example..earth is a planet...whereas our solar system has sun as the star..Stars unlike planets..r capable of generating tremendous amount of energy..in the form of light..n heat energy..earth/mars for instance cant generate heat of their own..this is basically the difference..


If you wanna know how is it different in appearance ,in the night sky..then look up for those that twinkle..those are the stars..however if you see any that appears really really bright..it might end up being venus or jupiter..so check up the night sky in the net..n go and look em out..mostly its the stars you see...on a clear sky..if you are lucky enough you can even see the milky way band..


=)|||I will tell u how locate planets with bare eyes.


If you observe night sky u can see stars shining but ones which don't shine are basically planets of our solar system.


If you are able trace the path in which moon moves you can see that majority of planets are in this path.


Venus and mercury are usually found low in horizon.


To locate other planets you may require a telescope.|||From the Earth, stars seem to "twinkle" and planets do not. Stars are extremely massive "balls" of plasma. Its gravity is so great that the pressure in its core is enough to start nuclear fusion, causing it to emit light. Planets orbit stars. They are usually rocky or gas giants. The only planets we see are the ones from our own solar system. However, you can see stars many light years away.|||As a layman, planets do not twinkle. Stars on the other hand do twinkle.