The phenomenon of missing stars at the core of our galaxy, the Milky Way, can be attributed to two main factors: interstellar dust and stellar crowding.
Interstellar Dust: Interstellar dust consists of tiny particles of various materials that exist between stars. This dust scatters and absorbs visible light, making it difficult for us to observe objects behind it. The core of the Milky Way contains a significant amount of interstellar dust, which obstructs our view of stars located in that region. As a result, when we observe the core, many stars appear to be missing or obscured.
Stellar Crowding: The core of the Milky Way is densely populated with stars, forming what is known as a stellar bulge. The high concentration of stars in this region leads to a phenomenon called stellar crowding. When stars are tightly packed together, their individual light can blend together, making it challenging to distinguish and identify individual stars. This effect can cause some stars to be visually lost or appear as a single blended source of light, contributing to the perception of missing stars.
Both interstellar dust and stellar crowding contribute to the apparent absence of stars in the core of our galaxy when observed from our vantage point. However, it's important to note that these missing stars are not truly absent but rather obscured or difficult to detect due to these factors. Advanced telescopes and observational techniques, such as infrared astronomy, can help penetrate the interstellar dust and provide a clearer view of the stars in the galactic core.