undefined | Better HN

0 pointsirrational3y ago0 comments

I was surprised to learn recently that we can only see 5,000 stars from Earth with the naked eye.

0 comments

Depends on your definition of "star." You can see the Andromeda galaxy with your naked eye (as well as the galactic center.)

PaulDavisThe1st3y ago

True, but IIUC, that's the only object you can see in the sky that is not a part of our galaxy.

zuminator3y ago

The Magellanic clouds are also visible to the naked eye.

irrationalOP3y ago

But you don’t see individual stars. When I have been out in the middle of nowhere and looked at the Andromeda galaxy, it just looks like a smudge. You need a telescope to really realize it is made up of many individual stars.

CSSer3y ago

Is that even in the best conditions i.e. a dark site?

croes3y ago

Yes

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-blogs/how-many-stars-n...

CSSer3y ago

Super cool! Thank you for sharing.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

Blammar3y ago

Depends on your definition of "star." You can see the Andromeda galaxy with your naked eye (as well as the galactic center.)

PaulDavisThe1st3y ago

True, but IIUC, that's the only object you can see in the sky that is not a part of our galaxy.

zuminator3y ago

The Magellanic clouds are also visible to the naked eye.

irrationalOP3y ago

CSSer3y ago

Is that even in the best conditions i.e. a dark site?

croes3y ago

Yes

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-blogs/how-many-stars-n...

CSSer3y ago

Super cool! Thank you for sharing.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse