How do you make a mesh star on blender?

I know how to make a background star setting with the little option but how do you make a mesh star? I tried making one by forming two triangles using a plane then putting the two together. Then when i went to render it, it looked like a square with extra long lines. By the way i am using blender 2.5 beta.How do you make a mesh star on blender?Please consider commiting:

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