Paths/Shape don't appear symmetrical

Prenihility,

"I dont understand how copying the paths and looking at W and H values with tell me if it's symmetrical."

Given the following information, this is less important; but identical values of W and H for the path segments on either side of the top Anchor Point tell us that those paths are identical (only mirrored) and therefore there can be no asymmetry, whichever way it seems to look.

With regard to your wish to make sure that everything is (kept) symmetrical, I would suggest a different way of drawing, easier with Smart Guides on, with no need for alignment aids such as the rectangles (I believe it is safer without them as they could cause/introduce inaccuracies):

1) Create the basic shape with the Star Tool and align it to the Artboard, as you did;

2) Direct Select the left and and right tip Anchor Points (ShiftClick on each or ShiftClickDrag over each), then switch to the Scale Tool, then simply ShiftClickDrag either towards the centre as desired (no need to hold Shift with Smart Guides on); with this, both are moved identically/symmetrically, and you can see the whole shape change as you do it;

3)  Direct Select the top tip Anchor Point and ShiftClickDrag it towards the centre.

With the above there really is no way that asymmetry can be introduced, and such an appearance must have another reason.

There is no way to upload an AI document, only screenshots/images. For others to see/work with AI documents, they must be uploaded to own/other website with a link to it.

But there really is no need, and sensitive artwork should never be uploaded for (literally) everyone to see.

Apart from everything else, the appearance of asymmetry if there is none, is intriguing.

Prenihility,

As Peter said, there may be a tiniest bit of inaccuracy, and I believe you judge it by a larger part of the shape than shown. Presumably, rather than seeing it, you sense it.

The screenshot has a remarkable lack of details that might give clues, presumably to withhold what should be withheld.

But I believe you can make a simple test as follows, building on the information/assumption that we are looking at a(n attempted) regular star (as if) created with the Star Tool. You can:

1) With the Direct Selection Tool, select each of the path segments leading up to the tip and Ctrl/Cmd+C+F+X+F to create a copy as a separate line/path in front,

2) Compare the W (and H) values (in the Transform palette) of the two copy paths.

If those are identical, you have symmetry. If not, there can be different possible reasons (one being an orientation inaccuracy or a regular star, which would show in different Y values for the the pair of side tips furthest apart).

And if they are identical, you may consider possible reasons for your sensing an asymmetry. Just to mention one aspect, surroundings (both inside the star and outside it) can pull at the appearance; even down to wee things such as the bottom bar icons that are only to the left, or to the amount of empty space at either side, or the position on the screen.

For the whole star, you can Direct Select the top Anchor Point and compare its X value to that of the entire star; but unless it is completely regular there could still be an asymmetry at the top.

How are you determining horizontal center? Is it the tip of the point? The guide? A mark on the ruler? Something else in the artwork? Also, how are you aligning it? Smart Guides? Align panel? X/Y fields in Transform/Control/Properties panel?

My guess is that some part of the path that we can't see about .1pt farther from or closer to the desired center line than you want it to be, so the actual object center line doesn't quite match the center of the point we can see. As I say, just a guess, but if you're being as precise as you say it shouldn't happen. I haven't encountered any such "visual glitch."

Peter