The basic difference between a star and a planet is that the stars give out their own light but planets do not. Planets shine in the sky because they reflect the light of the sun. Nine planets ,including the Earth orbit the sun. A moon like a planet shines by reflected sunlight. However a planet orbits the sun while a moon orbits a planet.
Most planets have moons.
Most stars are not single as they appear to the naked eye, but have one or more companion stars, a number of which can be seen trough small telescopes and binoculars. Not all stars are constant in brightness. Certain stars change noticeable in brightness from night to night and some even from hour to hour. A constellation is a pattern of stars. Ancient astronomers found that constellation were easier to recognize then individual stars.