C++ Pointers and Object Instantiation

Question

This works:

MyObject *o;
o = new MyObject();

And this does not:

MyObject o = new MyObject();

Why?

Answer 1

The keyword new returns a pointer. It must be assigned to a pointer of an object.

This would also work:

MyObject o = MyObject();

EDIT:

As Seth commented, the above is equivalent to:

MyObject o;

The default constructor (i.e. without parameters) is called if no constructor is given.

Answer 2

Because they're not equivalent. Try:

 MyObject* o = new MyObject();