Why sometimes I can see a group of stars more clearly from the side not from the center of my naked eye sight?

Answer 1

This is called "averted vision", and it's a well-known technique when observing stars by eye. The reason it works is that the center of your vision is optimized for seeing detail, not for seeing dim objects. Away from the center of vision, you're much more sensitive to dim light, but cannot resolve objects as well. So you can see extra stars, but as soon as you look directly at them, they disappear! This takes a bit of getting used to, but with practice moving your eye in a deliberate manner and paying attention to what you see will allow you to better see astronomical objects.

It's a matter of the relative abundance of rod and cone cells in different places in the retina.

Answer 2

I agree with cosmo's response. The biological basis of this is the two kinds of cells on your retina: rods and cones. One type is located toward the center of your retina, and the other type is concentrated on the edges. The edge of your retina is more sensitive to dim objects than the center is.

Answer 3

Cosmo is exactly right! Excellent! We use averted vision to see a lot of extra details on many things. Give Cosmo the best answer rating.

Answer 4

Humans have better peripheral vision at night. You can often see stars in your peripheral vision better than viewing them straight on.

In an evolutionary sense, this has helped us survive. If you can pick up on a predator in the dark with your peripheral vision, you'll have the better chance to get away.

Answer 5

This is normal. When theobject you are looking at is dim, the center of your retina is not as sensitive as the rest of the retina.

Answer 6

That same thing happens to me! they like float on the side of your eyes and move around. I wish i knew why its on the side, but sometimes if i movie my eyse around the stars follow..i went to the eye doctor because my eyes used to black out just on the edges and he told me it might be "optical migranes" because shortly after your head hurts and you dont feel good. He told me sometimes it causes you to see dots or stars or weird things like that..so maybe you might have that? try looking it up to see if you have the same thing..hope i helped

Answer 7

happens to me too.
i see like blue spots from the corner of my eye.
i'll keep checking back to this question to see if anyone got the answer

Answer 8

might be cataracts.