For astronomical meanings of "red star", see red dwarf, red giant, and stellar classification.

The five-pointed red star is a symbol of Communism and represents the five fingers of the worker's hand, as well as the five (inhabited) continents. It was often used to represent the rule of the Communist Party.

The red star is or was used on several flags and coats of arms of communist states, for example on the flag of former Yugoslavia. Sometimes the hammer and sickle was depicted inside or below the star. Since the fall of the Soviet bloc, the red star has been banned in some countries (e.g. in Hungary, it is a criminal offense to publicly show or use the symbol).

The Russian military newspaper is also called the Red Star (Russian Krasnaya Zvezda). Several sporting clubs from communist countries used the red star as a symbol, and at least two named themselves after it:

• FK Red Star (Serbian Crvena Zvezda), Belgrade
• Roter Stern , Leipzig

A five-pointed red star is also used by Heineken and Mozilla, but without any communist connotation.

"Red Star" is also the name of the first Kid Twist technopunk album.

See also

• Red flag
• Communist symbolism