Star Bit

Star Bits are collectible items in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are the most common items in the game. For every fifty Mario collects, he receives an Extra Life. If Mario loses a life while in a stage, his coins will be gone when he respawns, but his Star Bit count will remain the same. After completing a stage, Mario's Star Bits are added to his total amount. The stored Star Bits are then used to feed the Hungry Lumas found in the Comet Observatory.

Star Bits come in many colors (red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white), and are quite shiny. They are first introduced when Mario arrives at Princess Peach's Castle at the beginning of the game, in the form of small rocks from space landing and releasing them. To collect them, the Player can move the Star Cursor over them or simply run up to them. When Mario is flying through space from a planet to another planet, Star Bits often appear around him. To get them, the player must act quick and touch each of them with the Star Cursor before Mario lands on the next planet.

Star Bits are the Lumas' favorite food. When fed a certain number of them, a Hungry Luma will transform into a new planet or small galaxy and they will leave behind a pink Launch Star.

Pressing the B Button will shoot a Star Bit at the Star Cursor. This can be used to stun or defeat enemies. This will deduct from the player's Star Bit total, however. After the Star Bits have been fired they cannot be recovered.

The average enemy, such as a Goomba, will expel three Star Bits when defeated. However, that will only happen if they were stunned with a Star Bit first then kicked.

There is a larger variant that is called the Giant Star Bit that are normally seen in Launch Star paths. They are broken upon impact and produce six Star Bits that Mario must pick up quickly before they fly away.

Trivia

 * It has been said that Star Bits taste like honey; they are based on a type of Japanese candy known as Kompeitō.
 * If 9999 star bits are collected, all coconuts in the game will become watermelons.
 * In Mario Kart Wii Star Bits reappear in the background of Rainbow Road.
 * It is not possible to collect more than 999 Star Bits in a single mission.
 * Although the Super Mario Galaxy prologue says that a Grand Star appeared after enough Star Bits were collected, this never happens with the Star Bits Mario collects, despite the fact that he collects a large quantity of them.
 * Star Bits must contain some sort of energy, since they can (apparently) form Grand stars and cause Hungry Lumas to transform.