How do planets appear visually different from stars, even without a telescope, that aids in distinguishing their light?

Answer

Planets appear as tiny discs

Planets appear as tiny discs, even without magnification, which allows their light to pass through the atmosphere more smoothly compared to stars, which appear only as pinpricks of light.

How do planets appear visually different from stars, even without a telescope, that aids in distinguishing their light?

#Videos

Venus reaches its greatest brightness near the Moon (21 to 27 April)

astronomystarMooncelestial bodybright object