What we see:
* The Sun: While the Sun *emits* its own light, we see it because that light travels to Earth and enters our eyes.
* The Moon: The Moon doesn't produce its own light. We see it because sunlight reflects off its surface.
* Planets: Like the Moon, planets shine because sunlight reflects off them. We can see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with the naked eye, and even Uranus and Neptune with telescopes.
* Stars: Stars are giant balls of hot gas that produce their own light. We see this light traveling through space and reaching Earth.
* Comets: These icy bodies can reflect sunlight, but they also emit some light of their own as they vaporize in the sun's heat.
* Artificial Satellites: Some satellites, like the International Space Station, reflect sunlight and can be visible from Earth.
* Meteors (Shooting Stars): Meteors are small pieces of space debris that burn up in Earth's atmosphere. We see them because the heat causes them to glow brightly.
Key point: We only see objects in space because light from them reaches our eyes. Whether they produce their own light (like stars) or reflect light from another source (like the Moon), this light allows us to perceive them.
