Planet Star Does it twinkle, blink, or shimmer? No Yes Does it move in a straight line across the sky? Yes No Does it appear to circle around the North Star? No Yes The sun, moon, and planets travel along the ecliptic, which is an invisible archway across the sky. First, note the position of the moon. Next, look for any bright celestial bodies nearby. Is your object found alongside or nearby the path of the ecliptic? Yes No* Is it bright white to the naked eye? No Yes Does it sometimes appear a color other than white to the naked eye? Yes No Is it brighter than the objects surrounding it? Yes No *Stars may sometimes appear along the ecliptic. However, you can distinguish them from planets by their twinkling appearance.