There are so many stars in the night sky! And they all seem so small! And the Earth - it is so huge. So how really is that bigger: a star or a planet? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand what each of these celestial bodies represents.
Star
Astronomers call it the body in which thermonuclear reactions occur. These are giant balls of gas, emanating an incredible amount of light and heat. They are formed by the gravitational compression of gas and dust, filling the vastness of space. In the depths of stars at temperatures of several million Kelvin, hydrogen is converted into helium in thermonuclear reactions.
The surface of the stars is cold: only a few thousand or tens of thousands of Kelvin. Stars are the main objects of the Universe, because they contain the bulk of light in nature. Even such scarce information can help answer what is more: a star or a planet.
All planets in stellar systems revolve around a star. In our system, planets move in orbit in the same direction in which the sun rotates around its axis.
The birth of a star
However, this is not all the data available to scientists around the world regarding stars. It has long been known what is more: a star or a planet. In addition, it was found out how stars appear. And they are born from interstellar gas. Under the influence of its own gravity, the cloud of this substance slowly contracts. In this process, gravitational energy develops into heat. After the temperature in the center reaches millions of Kelvin, compression stops, and nucleosynthesis begins instead. This is the longest stage in the life of a star, continuing until the fuel reserves run out in the core. When hydrogen in the center is converted to helium, combustion continues on the edge of the helium core.
The structure of the star changes during this period. The degree of luminosity increases, the outer layers go beyond the usual framework, while the inner ones are compressed even more. The brightness of the star falls. After a natural decrease in surface temperature, the star is called the red giant. In this phase, it remains for a relatively short time.
An example of star formation in our time can be considered a gas cluster near the constellation Orion. This complex extends over almost the entire area of the constellation, including the mass of molecular and neutral gas, dust and several nebulae. Stars have been forming here for many millions of years and to the present.
Planet
It is known that at the same time as a star from the same cloud of dust, planets develop, therefore it is no secret that more: stars or planets. In general, planets are called celestial bodies that revolve around a star. These objects are of sufficient mass to acquire a rounded shape, but still not large enough for thermonuclear reactions to begin in them. These bodies clear the orbital space of planetesimals.
Previously, scientists were not sure of the existence of planets in other stars, but today a large number of these bodies, called exoplanets, have been discovered. Researchers were able to detect their presence only with the help of a powerful space telescope.
The mere fact that we see stars, but the planets belonging to their systems - no, suggests that more: a star or a planet. On the other hand, we can also see some planets of the solar system under certain conditions, but this does not mean that they are larger than our star. This happens only because these planets are much closer to Earth than our luminary.
Even the largest celestial bodies orbiting a star are much smaller (many times or hundreds of times) than the central object of the system. In the end, if it were otherwise, not the planets would revolve around the star, but just the opposite. But this contradicts all the laws of the universe.
Conclusion
Based on the information that scientists have found out about the device of not only ours, but also other stellar systems, the answer to the question of which is more: a star or a planet is obvious. Smaller bodies revolve around a larger one. The planets revolve around the star, which means that the star far exceeds them in size and mass.
In addition, to the question of which is greater: a star, or a planet, or a satellite, the answer will be the same. With the exception of the clarification that the satellite first revolves around its planet, and only then both of these bodies revolve around their star.