A large object in space that is made of gas and produces its own light.

A large object in space that is made of gas and produces its own light.

• A. Planet
• B. Moon
• C. Asteroid
• D. Star

Answer: (D)

A star is a celestial object that makes its own light. It does this because it’s a huge sphere of hot gas (really plasma) where nuclear fusion occurs in the core, fusing hydrogen into helium and releasing energy that escapes as visible light and heat. That internal energy production is what lets a star glow without needing illumination from another source. Planets, moons, and asteroids don’t generate light on their own. They’re much cooler and make light only by reflecting the Sun’s rays or light from other stars. So while they can appear bright in the sky, they aren’t emitting their own light like a star.

A star is a celestial object that makes its own light. It does this because it’s a huge sphere of hot gas (really plasma) where nuclear fusion occurs in the core, fusing hydrogen into helium and releasing energy that escapes as visible light and heat. That internal energy production is what lets a star glow without needing illumination from another source.

Planets, moons, and asteroids don’t generate light on their own. They’re much cooler and make light only by reflecting the Sun’s rays or light from other stars. So while they can appear bright in the sky, they aren’t emitting their own light like a star.