What visual characteristic typically distinguishes a planet from a true star when positioned near the Moon?
Answer
Planets shine with a distinct, unwavering, steady glow
Stars twinkle because their distant light paths are disrupted by Earth's turbulent atmosphere, whereas planets appear as tiny discs, allowing their light to pass through more smoothly, resulting in a steady glow.
#Videos
Venus reaches its greatest brightness near the Moon (21 to 27 April)
Related Questions
What is the astronomical term for when the Moon passes near a bright planet from our viewpoint on Earth?What visual characteristic typically distinguishes a planet from a true star when positioned near the Moon?Which two planets routinely outshine all other planets and most stars when sighted near the Moon?Why is Venus generally visible only shortly after sunset or just before sunrise?What physical characteristic of Mars gives it its unique reddish or orange tint when observed near the Moon?How do planets appear visually different from stars, even without a telescope, that aids in distinguishing their light?If the bright object near the Moon is shining with a steady, pale-yellow or white light but lacks Venus's dazzling intensity, what is it most likely?Why is Mercury always observed quite close to the horizon when it features in these pairings?What dependency makes the answer to 'What is it?' different every few nights?How can light pollution inadvertently aid urban dwellers in clearly identifying a bright planet near the Moon?