Star

A star is a luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the planet's energy. Other stars are visible in the night sky, when they are not outshone by the Sun. Historically, the most prominent stars were grouped into constellations and asterisms, and the brightest stars gained proper names. Extensive catalogues of stars have been assembled by astronomers, which provide standardized star designations. Star in Hebrew is כוכב (Kokhav). In Arabic, it is نجم (Najm), and in Spanish, it is estrella. Stars have been important to cultures throughout history, often playing a significant role in mythology, navigation, and astrology. Modern astronomy distinguishes the visual appearance of stars from other visible celestial bodies, which are catagorized as either planets, moons, comets, or meteors.