What Am I Riddles

Question: When I am released to the wind,
you look away and you pretend,
but away your friends I will send.

What am I?

Question: I am shorter when I stand and taller when I sit.
Sometimes I'm even called a pit.

What am I?

Question: I live above a star, but I do not burn.
I have 11 friends, but they do not turn.
I am visited in sequence: never, once, or repeatedly.
My initials are PQRS.

Now tell me, what do I mean?

Question: What goes up when the rain goes down?

Question: What has ten letters and starts with gas?