One of the most common questions I often get asked from my students is "how can you tell the difference between a star and a planet?" There are a few techniques you can learn to help you determine the difference between a planet and a star.  Some planets, like Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, shine brighter than the stars. They also stay in the path of the ecliptic.  The motion of a planet is different than that of a star. A star has a predictable rise and set time for each day of the year, whereas planets wander around the night sky in a separate cycle.

In this video, learn how to find the planets in the sky, what their characteristics are, and which planets are invisible to the naked eye.