Silver Star

Silver Stars are Stars that first appeared in Super Mario 64 DS, and returned in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. In all of the games that they are present, Mario (or any other playable character) must collect five of these Stars in some levels to form a Power Star. According to a Bee in Super Mario Galaxy 2, the five Silver Stars fall from the sky.

Super Mario 64 DS
Silver Stars were introduced in Super Mario 64 DS, being a new feature to the game. In some levels, the player must collect five to get a Power Star. They are found in almost every course and in Sunshine Isles. If a character gets damaged while holding one or more Silver Stars, he will lose one and it will scatter and bounce around the area nonstop. The player must catch it again to retrieve it. The touch screen shows the location of these stars. . Similar physics are used in the multiplayer mode of Super Mario 64 DS and the missions may have been the inspiration of the multiplayer mode or the other way around. However, in multiplayer, the Silver Stars are replaced by Power Stars.

Super Mario Galaxy
Silver Stars reappear in Super Mario Galaxy having the same role as in Super Mario 64 DS. This time, the player will not lose one if they manage to take damage. The Stars also float around Mario, unlike in Super Mario 64 DS where they "disappeared", after being collected. When all 5 Silver Stars are collected there will be a cutscene where the 5 Silver Stars merge into a Power Star.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Silver Stars appear again in Super Mario Galaxy 2, having the same role as they did in the first game. Interestingly, in both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, when a Silver Star is collected, it makes the same sound as a Luma would make.

Trivia

 * It is interesting to note that on Dusty Dune Galaxy that the 5 silver stars form a Green Power Star instead of just a regular Power Star.