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Naked Eye Star Population
Name: Che-Bin Status: other Grade: other Location: CA Country: N/A Date: 1/29/2005
Question:
My son asked me: how many stars can we see on the sky with our human eyes?
Replies:
This is not easy to estimate accurately because of the many factors that enter in. A short list:
1. How good is your vision?
2. No moon, half moon, full moon?
3. Clear still atmosphere, or haze?
4. Light pollution from city lights?
5. Observer's location (longitude/latitude)?
6. Time of night?
Taken all together the number is probably greater than 4000 but less than 10,000 but that is only a rough estimate.
Vince Calder
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