* Stars are too far away: Stars are incredibly distant, and even though they're massive, they appear as tiny points of light in the night sky.

* Satellites are closer: Satellites orbit the Earth, and while they are smaller than stars, they are close enough that we can see them as moving points of light.

* Reflected sunlight: Satellites reflect sunlight, which is what we see.

Here's why it might look like dots:

* Motion: Satellites move across the sky, so they might appear as quick flashes of light, almost like dots.

* Brightness: Some satellites are brighter than others, and if they're moving quickly, they can appear as brief, bright dots.

To tell if you're seeing a star or a satellite:

* Motion: Stars are stationary, while satellites move.

* Brightness: Satellites can change brightness as they reflect more or less sunlight.

* Duration: Satellites typically appear for a few minutes before disappearing.

Let me know if you'd like to know more about satellites!