diff --git a/scripts/game/enemy_health_bar.gd b/scripts/game/enemy_health_bar.gd
index e530319..ba26d1d 100644
--- a/scripts/game/enemy_health_bar.gd
+++ b/scripts/game/enemy_health_bar.gd
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	enemy = get_parent() as CharacterBody2D
 	top_level = true
 	z_index = 30
+	light_mask = 4
 	_update_position()
 
 func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
diff --git a/scripts/game/enemy_ship.gd b/scripts/game/enemy_ship.gd
index 17ff308..36e2ba8 100644
--- a/scripts/game/enemy_ship.gd
+++ b/scripts/game/enemy_ship.gd
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ func configure(player: CharacterBody2D, ship_texture: Texture2D) -> void:
 	var visual_size := get_visual_size()
 	_sprite.scale = Vector2.ONE * (visual_size / largest_dimension)
 	_sprite.modulate = Color("ffc785") if loot_tier == 1 else Color.WHITE
+	preload("res://scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd").attach_to(_sprite)
 
 func get_visual_size() -> float:
 	return 112.0 if loot_tier == 2 else (68.0 if loot_tier == 1 else 56.0)
diff --git a/scripts/game/ship_controller.gd b/scripts/game/ship_controller.gd
index 561cd1a..8892ffe 100644
--- a/scripts/game/ship_controller.gd
+++ b/scripts/game/ship_controller.gd
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		_sprite.texture = ship_texture
 		var largest_dimension := maxf(ship_texture.get_width(), ship_texture.get_height())
 		_sprite.scale = Vector2.ONE * (64.0 / largest_dimension)
+		preload("res://scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd").attach_to(_sprite)
 	# Inventory children have already applied the restored equipment bonuses.
 	hull = max_hull
 	shields = max_shields
diff --git a/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd b/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..debe26d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+extends RefCounted
+
+# Cache one simplified silhouette per texture, shared by all ships of that type.
+static var _silhouettes: Dictionary = {}
+
+static func attach_to(sprite: Sprite2D) -> void:
+	if sprite.texture == null:
+		return
+	sprite.light_mask = 2
+	if sprite.has_node("ShipShadow"):
+		return
+	var texture := sprite.texture
+	var key := texture.get_instance_id()
+	if not _silhouettes.has(key):
+		var image := texture.get_image()
+		if image == null or image.is_empty():
+			return
+		if image.is_compressed():
+			image.decompress()
+		var original_size := Vector2(image.get_size())
+		var factor := minf(1.0, 128.0 / maxf(original_size.x, original_size.y))
+		image.resize(maxi(1, roundi(original_size.x * factor)), maxi(1, roundi(original_size.y * factor)), Image.INTERPOLATE_BILINEAR)
+		var bitmap := BitMap.new()
+		bitmap.create_from_image_alpha(image, 0.25)
+		var polygons := bitmap.opaque_to_polygons(Rect2i(Vector2i.ZERO, image.get_size()), 1.5)
+		var silhouette := PackedVector2Array()
+		var largest_area := 0.0
+		for polygon in polygons:
+			var area := _polygon_area(polygon)
+			if area > largest_area:
+				largest_area = area
+				silhouette = polygon
+		var image_scale := original_size / Vector2(image.get_size())
+		for index in silhouette.size():
+			silhouette[index] = silhouette[index] * image_scale - original_size * 0.5
+		_silhouettes[key] = silhouette
+	var points: PackedVector2Array = _silhouettes[key]
+	if points.size() < 3:
+		return
+	var polygon := OccluderPolygon2D.new()
+	polygon.polygon = points
+	polygon.cull_mode = OccluderPolygon2D.CULL_DISABLED
+	var occluder := LightOccluder2D.new()
+	occluder.name = "ShipShadow"
+	occluder.occluder = polygon
+	occluder.occluder_light_mask = 1
+	occluder.show_behind_parent = true
+	sprite.add_child(occluder)
+
+static func _polygon_area(points: PackedVector2Array) -> float:
+	var area := 0.0
+	for index in points.size():
+		area += points[index].cross(points[(index + 1) % points.size()])
+	return absf(area) * 0.5
diff --git a/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd.uid b/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b65a744
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/game/ship_shadow.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://b2jj0dueysvnp
diff --git a/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd b/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d5b446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+extends RefCounted
+
+const LIGHT_RADIUS := 3400.0
+const LIGHT_ENERGY := 0.28
+const SHIP_LIGHT_ENERGY := 0.16
+const LIGHT_COLOR := Color(1.0, 0.93, 0.82)
+
+static func attach_to(star: Node2D) -> void:
+	var gradient := Gradient.new()
+	gradient.offsets = PackedFloat32Array([0.0, 0.25, 0.65, 1.0])
+	gradient.colors = PackedColorArray([Color.WHITE, Color(1, 1, 1, 0.9), Color(1, 1, 1, 0.5), Color(1, 1, 1, 0)])
+	var texture := GradientTexture2D.new()
+	texture.gradient = gradient
+	texture.width = 512
+	texture.height = 512
+	texture.fill = GradientTexture2D.FILL_RADIAL
+	texture.fill_from = Vector2(0.5, 0.5)
+	texture.fill_to = Vector2(0.5, 0.0)
+
+	var light := PointLight2D.new()
+	light.name = "StarLight"
+	light.texture = texture
+	light.texture_scale = LIGHT_RADIUS * 2.0 / texture.width
+	light.color = LIGHT_COLOR
+	light.energy = LIGHT_ENERGY
+	light.range_item_cull_mask = 1
+	light.shadow_enabled = true
+	light.shadow_item_cull_mask = 1
+	light.shadow_filter = Light2D.SHADOW_FILTER_PCF5
+	light.shadow_filter_smooth = 2.0
+	star.add_child(light)
+
+	# A separate mask lights hulls without their own silhouettes darkening them.
+	var hull_light := PointLight2D.new()
+	hull_light.name = "HullLight"
+	hull_light.texture = texture
+	hull_light.texture_scale = light.texture_scale
+	hull_light.color = LIGHT_COLOR
+	hull_light.energy = SHIP_LIGHT_ENERGY
+	hull_light.range_item_cull_mask = 2
+	star.add_child(hull_light)
+
+	var glow := Sprite2D.new()
+	glow.name = "StarGlow"
+	glow.texture = texture
+	glow.scale = Vector2.ONE * (float(star.get("radius")) * 5.0 / texture.width)
+	glow.modulate = Color(LIGHT_COLOR, 0.09)
+	glow.z_index = -1
+	var material := CanvasItemMaterial.new()
+	material.blend_mode = CanvasItemMaterial.BLEND_MODE_ADD
+	material.light_mode = CanvasItemMaterial.LIGHT_MODE_UNSHADED
+	glow.material = material
+	star.add_child(glow)
diff --git a/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd.uid b/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ead6262
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/game/star_lighting.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://kmnxv1hp273t
diff --git a/scripts/levels/celestial_body.gd b/scripts/levels/celestial_body.gd
index 62d211f..a814399 100644
--- a/scripts/levels/celestial_body.gd
+++ b/scripts/levels/celestial_body.gd
@@ -14,8 +14,15 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	sprite.texture_filter = CanvasItem.TEXTURE_FILTER_LINEAR
 	var longest_side := maxf(body_texture.get_width(), body_texture.get_height())
 	sprite.scale = Vector2.ONE * (radius * 2.0 / longest_side)
+	if is_star:
+		var material := CanvasItemMaterial.new()
+		material.light_mode = CanvasItemMaterial.LIGHT_MODE_UNSHADED
+		sprite.material = material
 	add_child(sprite)
+	if is_star:
+		preload("res://scripts/game/star_lighting.gd").attach_to(self)
 	_label = Label.new()
+	_label.light_mask = 4
 	_label.position = Vector2(-160, radius + 14)
 	_label.size = Vector2(320, 54)
 	_label.horizontal_alignment = HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT_CENTER
diff --git a/tests/levels/system_lifecycle_test.gd b/tests/levels/system_lifecycle_test.gd
index 3659955..60424cf 100644
--- a/tests/levels/system_lifecycle_test.gd
+++ b/tests/levels/system_lifecycle_test.gd
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	get_tree().current_scene = game
 	_freeze(game)
 	_assert_boss_and_health(game)
+	var star := game.get_node("CelestialBodies/CentralStar")
+	var star_light: PointLight2D = star.get_node("StarLight")
+	assert(star_light.shadow_enabled and star_light.energy < 0.5)
+	assert(star_light.position == Vector2.ZERO)
+	assert(star_light.shadow_filter == Light2D.SHADOW_FILTER_PCF5)
+	assert(star.get_node("HullLight").get("range_item_cull_mask") == 2)
 	assert(GameState.system_level == 1 and int(game.call("get_remaining_enemies")) == 5)
 	assert(not game.has_node("WeaponTestTarget"))
 	assert(game.get_node("CelestialBodies").get_child_count() >= 2)
@@ -146,10 +152,14 @@ func _freeze(game: Node2D) -> void:
 	game.set_physics_process(false)
 	game.get_node("PlayerShip").set_physics_process(false)
 	game.get_node("PlayerShip/WeaponController").set_physics_process(false)
+	assert(game.get_node("PlayerShip/Sprite2D/ShipShadow") is LightOccluder2D)
 	for enemy in get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("enemies"):
 		if game.is_ancestor_of(enemy):
 			var data: Dictionary = game.get("system_data")
 			assert(enemy.get_node("Sprite2D").get("texture") == game.ENEMY_TEXTURES[int(data["enemy_texture_index"])])
+			var shadow: LightOccluder2D = enemy.get_node("Sprite2D/ShipShadow")
+			assert(shadow.occluder.polygon.size() >= 3)
+			assert(shadow.global_scale.is_equal_approx(enemy.get_node("Sprite2D").global_scale))
 			enemy.set_physics_process(false)
 
 func _assert_boss_and_health(game: Node2D) -> void: