Download How are stars and planets alike and different?

How are stars and
planets alike and
different?
Created for TCSS
Georgia Performance Standards
S4E1: Students will compare and contrast
the physical attributes of stars, star
patterns, and planets.
b. Compare the similarities and differences of
planets to the stars in appearance, position, and
number in the night sky.
STARS
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A star is a huge ball of hot gases.
When seen from the Earth, most
stars appear as small points of light
because they are very far away.
How many stars are there?
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On the clearest night, you can see
hundreds of stars.
The universe holds many, many
more stars than you can see from
Earth.
These stars are too far away to be
seen with the unaided eye.
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Stars are always present, even
during the day.
You just cannot see them during the
day because the sky is so bright.
Each night the stars appear to move
across the sky. This is caused by the
rotation of the Earth.
Planet
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A PLANET is a large body or rock or gas in
space that moves around a star.
A planet DOES NOT produce light of its
own. That is why planets almost never
twinkle, while stars do twinkle.
You can see planets in the night sky
because of the Sun’s light reflecting, or
bouncing off, of them.
Comparing Planets and Stars - Appearance
• When viewed through a telescope or
binoculars, planets do not appear to be as
bright as stars.
• Planets appear as disks. Stars look like fuzzy,
twinkling lights.
• Both planets and stars look like points of light
in the night sky, because they are so far
away.
• Planets are much smaller than stars.
• Planets reflect sunlight. Stars are made up of
hot gases which produce light.
Comparing Planets and Stars - Position
• Planets appear to change position.
• Planets are closer to us than stars and the
planets are in constant motion as they orbit the
sun; therefore, they can be seen in different
locations in the night sky in relation to the
constellations.
• Stars appear to remain in a fixed
position.
• Because stars are so far away, changes in their
positions are barely noticeable so constellations
appear to remain the same.
Comparing Planets and Stars - Number
• Only a few planets can be seen in
the night sky.
• Many stars can be seen in the night
sky.