How many stars we can see from Earth?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the number of stars visible from Earth, particularly focusing on visibility with the naked eye and the conditions affecting this visibility. Participants explore estimates and factors influencing how many stars can be seen under different circumstances.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant estimates that about 6,000 stars can be seen from Earth with the naked eye, with an average of 3,000 visible in the hemisphere above ground.
  • Another participant suggests that under very dark skies, possibly tens of thousands of stars could be visible, emphasizing that visibility depends on light pollution and sky conditions.
  • A different viewpoint notes that while thousands of stars can be seen in the plane of the Milky Way, they may be too faint to resolve individually.
  • One participant humorously mentions only being able to see one bright star, indicating variability in individual experiences.
  • There is a suggestion that the estimates of visibility may vary significantly based on environmental conditions, with average skies allowing for around 2,000 visible stars.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the number of stars visible, with some agreeing on the 6,000 estimate while others argue that under optimal conditions, many more could be seen. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact number and conditions affecting visibility.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that visibility is highly dependent on factors such as light pollution and atmospheric conditions, which are not uniformly defined or quantified in the discussion.

Astrodent
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Greetings,
Hi, I am new member of Physics Forums.
Here is my question:
How many stars can we see from Earth?
and also If you know, How far can we see?
Thanks!

 
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See by which means?
 
snorkack said:
See by which means?
I mean, In night, How many stars human can see.
 
You mean, naked eye?
Estimates are about 6000 over whole sky, average 3000 over the hemisphere above ground.
Furthest object commonly visible to naked eye is Andromeda Nebula, slightly over 2 million light years.
 
snorkack said:
You mean, naked eye?
Estimates are about 6000 over whole sky, average 3000 over the hemisphere above ground.
Furthest object commonly visible to naked eye is Andromeda Nebula, slightly over 2 million light years.
Yes, Maybe. Thank you for replying!
 
I don't think 6,000 is the limit. Under really dark skies, possibly tens of thousands. But most are too faint to make out. It depends on how dark the sky is. 6000 Is the average naked-eye limit, but under the rare, no light pollution desert sky, much more than that. They're just hard to make out because they're parts of the Milky Way. I don't know how many, but it varies on conditions. Average skies say 2,000. Desert Skies are uncountable.
 
You can see thousands upon thousands of stars in the plane of the milky way, but, they are too faint to resolve individually. It's like looking at M31. You can see it fairly easily with the naked eye. Not individual stars, just an amorphous glow from the collective luminosity of many stars.
 
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I don't know about all that, usually I can only see 1, but it's really bright.
 
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I'm guessing pretty close too.
 

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