Within 50 light-years of the Sun lies our local stellar neighbourhood, containing many stars — most of them small red dwarf (M-class) stars. This means that most of these stars are smaller and dimmer than the Sun. Yet, all the stars that we see in the night sky with our unaided eyes (no binoculars or telescopes) are stars bigger than the Sun, with the exception of Alpha Centauri. But even this one is a double star, which we perceive as a single bright star – the third brightest in the sky.
Some of the brighter stars are familiar, including Takurua (Sirius) and Hokulea (Arcturus).
Although 50 light-years is an enormous distance (around 480,000,000,000,000 kilometres), this region can be considered our local stellar neighbourhood.
Curriculum connection
Supports senior secondary learning in Earth and Space Science around:
- stellar characteristics
- temperature, colour and luminosity
- interpreting the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram
- stellar evolution
- apparent and absolute brightness/magnitude
- links between stellar properties and position on the H–R diagram
Particularly useful alongside current NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science learning about stars and planetary systems.
Learning pathway
The Colour of Stars
Understand how colour reveals temperature.
The Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
Learn how temperature and luminosity are used to organise stars.
Life Cycle of Stars
Explore how mass changes the life and fate of a star.
Our Stellar Neighbourhood (current page)
Apply these ideas to real stars around the Sun.
Data from missions such as the European Space Agency’s Gaia and Hipparcos projects allow us to map and study nearby stars in detail.
Explore the stars within 50 light-years of the Sun below. Double-click on a star to view its name and distance. Zoom in and out and drag the image around.
We created this diagram by merging datasets from Gaia DR3 and the Hipparcos Catalogue. Diagram by Sam Leske.
