What is the most reliable indicator for distinguishing a planet from a star when viewing objects in the west?
Answer
Steady, unwavering glow
The most definitive way to differentiate a planet from a star, especially when observing bright objects low in the western horizon, is by observing the quality of the light emission. Stars are extremely distant point sources of light, causing their light rays to be easily scattered and distorted by the turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in visible twinkling. Planets, being much closer celestial bodies, present themselves as tiny disks. This larger angular size means their light beams are less susceptible to atmospheric distortion, leading to a steady, unwavering glow that does not flicker.
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