This eight-pointed star has a slightly different feel from the standard star (⭐) emoji. It's often used as a decorative symbol to adorn text or make a specific word stand out.

Originally, this symbol was one of the dingbat characters that existed in computer fonts before emojis. That's likely why it's often seen in comics to express a sparkling effect or the sound of something bursting. It can also sometimes be interpreted as a symbol for a compass point.