SC.3.E.5.1 Stars

SC.3.E.5.1 Explain that stars can be different; some are smaller, some are large, and some appear brighter that others; all except the Sun are so far aways they look like points of light.

What Are Stars?

The Sun is a star. The Sun produces heat and light. All stars produce heat and light. Stars are very large objects in space that are shaped like spheres. Planets and moons are also large objects in space that are shaped like spheres, but planets and moons do not produce light. They reflect the light of the Sun.

When you look up at the sky in the day you can only see one star: the Sun. The Sun is the closest star to Earth. Even though there are other stars in the sky during the day, we can’t see them because the Sun is so bright.

When you look up at the sky at night, you can see several thousand stars. But those stars are not as bright as the Sun. The stars at night are so far away that they look like points of light. Some of the stars in the night sky are brighter than the Sun. They are so far away they appear dim. Some of the stars in the night sky are much bigger than the Sun. They are so far away that they appear to be much smaller.