How can I tell the difference between a planet and a star?
Quick Answer: Planets shine with a steady light, while stars twinkle. Planets usually appear brighter and don’t flicker because they reflect sunlight. Stars are far away and their light bends through Earth’s atmosphere, causing the twinkle effect.
When you look up at the night sky, stars often seem to sparkle or flicker. This happens because their light passes through layers of air in our atmosphere that are constantly moving. Planets, being closer, appear as steady points of light without that flicker.
Planets also tend to be brighter and follow a path close to the ecliptic, the line where the Sun travels. If you spot a bright object that doesn’t twinkle and moves slowly over nights, it’s very likely a planet.