Launch Star

A Launch Star is a major item in both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Launch Stars are large (usually orange) stars that hover just above the ground of a planet, though occasionally they can also appear floating in the air above a planet, or just floating in space. They can only be activated by shaking the Wii Remote and causing Mario to spin when he is either in or next to a Launch Star, though any Launch Stars in the level will visibly spin when the Wii Remote is shaken, regardless of whether or not he is necessarily close to one. When activated, a Launch Star will catapult Mario to another planet or planets.

Launch Stars are not always readily available for Mario to use. In some cases, Mario must complete a certain task or objective before the Launch Star will appear, such as collecting five yellow Star Chips, eliminating all enemies on a particular planet, or freeing a yellow Luma from an ice crystal. In addition, yellow Lumas are also able to transform into Launch Stars independently, though this is more common in Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is revealed in this game that these Lumas still retain the ability to talk to Mario while in Launch Star form.

Launch Stars often let Mario fly through space before landing on another planet, unlike their smaller sister items, Sling Stars, which often fling Mario directly to another planet, with very little space in between. While flying through space, Mario will occasionally hit a floating crystal that has been placed directly in the path of the Launch Star, which will often release multiple Star Bits that will float around Mario until he lands on the planet. Mario can collect these Star Bits by touching them with the Star Cursor.

In Super Mario Galaxy, the first time Mario uses a Launch Star, the path of the Launch Star will originally be invisible, but will be traced out in space as Mario is flying to the next planet. However, if Mario later returns to a Launch Star that he has already used to travel to another planet, the path will be visible before he uses it. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the path of each Launch Star that Mario uses appears before he uses it for the first time, as well as each time he uses it following the first time.

After Mario feeds a Hungry Luma, it will transform into a new planet or galaxy and leave behind a pink Launch Star leading to that planet. The only Hungry Luma that will not leave behind a Launch Star after being fed is the one that transforms into the Hurry-Scurry Planet in the Sea Slide Galaxy (Mario must use a cannon to reach the planet instead). There is also a green Launch Star located onboard the Comet Observatory that will take Mario to the Planet of Trials when activated. This one, as well as the Launch Stars on the Planet of Trials, are the only green Launch Stars in the enitre game.

In Mario Kart Wii, a single large Launch Star appears in Rainbow Road, where it acts as a cannon and shoots racers into a rainbow tunnel and through another large Launch Star at the end (the second Launch Star does not launch racers however). The railing of this course also has multiple Launch Stars on it.

Trivia

 * In Super Mario Galaxy, there are three distinct Launch Star colors that appear: the normal orange, pink (after feeding a Hungry Luma), and green (leading to the Planet of Trials). In Super Mario Galaxy 2 however, only orange and pink Launch Stars make an appearance.
 * Note that for orange Launch Stars, the path leading to the next planet will always be translucent blue, while pink Launch Stars will have translucent pink paths, and the green launch star will have a translucent green path.
 * The green Launch Star located on the Comet Observatory in Super Mario Galaxy is the only Launch Star between the two games that is actually inaccessable the first time it is encountered. It can only be restored after Mario has collected all three Green Stars in the game.
 * When Mario stands directly under a Launch Star, the gravity of the Launch Star will pull Mario into the center of it automatically. If the player does not shake the Wii Remote, the Launch Star will release Mario and he will touch down on the ground again.
 * When activating a Launch Star, the player does not need to position Mario directly in the center before shaking the Wii Remote. In fact, almost every Launch Star will work as long as Mario is only relatively close to the Launch Star, though not exactly touching it.
 * After a Launch Star has been activated, a sound like a harp being played can be heard while Mario flies through space. This will only last for a few seconds, and will happen each time Mario uses a Launch Star.