2007-03-26 08:45:47 · 4 answers · asked by stephen445 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because stars come in all shapes and sizes, and burn at different temperatures. Many are nearby, but smaller and dimmer than their more distant cousins.
2007-03-26 08:53:29 · answer #1 · answered by xooxcable 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on your definition of "nearest stars".
If by nearest stars you mean the nearest dozen stars or so, then the reason is that the vast majority of stars in the galaxy are red dwarfs, which are very dim stars. So most of the nearest dozen stars fall into that category: stars like Proxima Centauri, Barnard's star, and Wolf 359, for example.
But if by "nearest stars" you mean within 1000 light years or so -- which is about 0.01% of the galaxy -- then nearly every star you can see with the naked eye is within that range, and only a very few are beyond it.
2007-03-26 11:10:29 · answer #2 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Statistical scattering.
Most stars are average, with very few "bright". The distribution of stars is fairly random.
As you move farther away from earth, you will encounter more stars, increasing your chances of seeing a bright star.
2007-03-26 09:19:23 · answer #3 · answered by awayforabit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the very bright stars were close to us, they would have wiped out life on Earth.
2007-03-26 08:53:55 · answer #4 · answered by Pseudo Obscure 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋