How are planets different from stars?
Planets are nearby worlds that reflect sunlight and slowly move against the fixed stars.
"Planet" comes from the Greek for "wanderer". Stars are distant suns so far away that their patterns look fixed for a lifetime.
Planets usually shine with a steadier light than stars, because they show a tiny disc rather than a point.
Related questions
What is the ecliptic?
The yearly path of the Sun against the stars — and the road the Moon and planets travel along.
Why do planets sometimes go backwards?
When the Earth overtakes an outer planet, it seems to drift backwards for a few weeks.
Why do stars twinkle?
Moving pockets of air bend starlight back and forth on its way to your eye.