What is the Difference Between Star and Planet?

The main difference between stars and planets is that stars generate their own light and heat due to thermonuclear fusion occurring at their core, while planets do not have their own light and instead reflect the light from an external source, such as the Sun. Here are some key differences between stars and planets:

• Light: Stars produce their own light, while planets reflect the light from other celestial bodies, such as stars.
• Size: Stars are generally larger than planets.
• Composition: Stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, while planets can have a wide range of compositions, including rocky, metallic, and gaseous materials.
• Temperature: Stars have much higher surface temperatures than planets, reaching millions of degrees Celsius.
• Atmosphere: Stars have a thin, highly ionized atmosphere, while planets can have thicker atmospheres capable of supporting life.
• Rotation: Stars rotate slowly, while planets can rotate more rapidly.
• Moons: Planets can have moons, while stars do not have any natural satellites.

In the night sky, stars appear to twinkle, while planets do not twinkle and maintain a constant brightness. This difference in twinkling can be used to differentiate between stars and planets when observing the sky.

Comparative Table: Star vs Planet

Here is a table summarizing the differences between stars and planets:

Stars are astronomical objects that produce their own light due to thermonuclear fusion taking place in their core, while planets are celestial objects that revolve around a star in a definite path and reflect the light from an external source, such as the Sun.