The visibility of stars in the night sky depends on several factors, including the darkness of the environment and the amount of light pollution present. In ideal conditions, away from light pollution, the human eye can potentially see stars that are several thousand light-years away. However, most stars visible to the naked eye are within a few hundred light-years of Earth.
Light pollution from artificial sources, such as streetlights, buildings, and cities, can significantly impact our ability to see stars. It creates a glow in the sky that diminishes the contrast between the stars and the background, making fainter stars harder to observe. In highly light-polluted areas, only the brightest stars and a handful of the closest galaxies and nebulae may be visible.
To fully appreciate the beauty of a starry sky and see a larger number of stars, it is necessary to be in an area with minimal light pollution. Such places are often remote, far from urban centers and their associated artificial lighting. Astronomers and stargazers often seek out dark-sky locations, which are designated areas with minimal light pollution, to observe celestial objects with less interference.
It's worth noting that there are also telescopes and observatories equipped with advanced instruments that can detect and observe much fainter and distant stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects, even in the presence of light pollution. These facilities use various techniques to enhance their observations and filter out unwanted light sources.