Star
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Stars are extremely large, extremely luminous bodies of gas at great distances. They are the most obvious features found in the universe. They are principally composed of hydrogen that is undergoing nuclear fusion to become helium. Our Sun is the nearest star to Earth, at a distance averaging 93 million miles. The Earth orbits the Sun in a period of approximately 365.25 days, and this defines the year. The diameter of the Sun, which is a typical star, is about 870,000 miles and its power output is about 1026 watts.
Stars are also often used as symbols on flags, such as the American flag (50 stars) and the flag of the European Union (12 stars).