A wish upon a star? Think again. A shooting star is not a star. It is a comet. A star is a source of energy. The energy is created from nuclear fission (splitting atoms). The hottest kind of star is blue. The stars are needed to heat planets so creatures can inhabit them. Stars are found in galaxies. The stars are needed to keep everything heated.

Ever wonder what the Sun is? The Sun is a star that burns tons of hydrogen and other gases. The Sun is about 5,000,000,000 years old. It has been heating the Earth and some other planets ever since the solar system. The sun is just a floating mast of heat and energy that is beneficial for life.

Do you know what a star is called when it blows up? An exploding star is called a nova. The event happens when the star creates more energy than it can give off in light or heat. It may burn nearby planets or other floating particles. It also can spread nuclear havoc. Fortunately, we only live next to one star that won't explode until about another 5,000,000,000 years. A supernova is a nova that causes a bigger explosion than the average nova. After a nova, a black hole may form.