Here's a breakdown:

* Luminous is an adjective describing something that shines or glows.

* The source of this light is internal to the object. It's not simply reflecting light from another source.

Examples of luminous objects:

* The sun: It generates its own light through nuclear fusion.

* Fireflies: They produce light through a chemical reaction.

* Glow-in-the-dark objects: They absorb energy from light and release it slowly as a glow.

* Some jellyfish: They have bioluminescent proteins that create their own light.

In contrast, non-luminous objects are those that don't emit their own light. They only reflect light from another source. Examples include:

* The moon: It reflects sunlight.

* A chair: It reflects light from a lamp.

* A mirror: It reflects light from any source.

Remember: Luminous objects create their own light, while non-luminous objects simply reflect light from other sources.