With the development of science and technology, human exploration of the universe has deepened, and it has gradually been discovered that the earth is at best a drop in the ocean in the vast universe, not even a speck of dust. The size of the universe is a difficult problem to measure accurately because it includes not only the parts that we can observe, but also the parts that we cannot observe directly.
There is no conclusive answer to the overall size of the universe. The part of the universe that is currently observable by humans is called the observable universe, and its diameter is estimated to be about 93 billion light-years. This number represents the time it takes for light to travel from the edge of the universe to us, and this time span is the limit of what we can currently detect.
In addition, the universe is constantly expanding, which means that the part of the universe that we can observe is also expanding. As a result, even the size of the part of the universe that we can currently observe changes over time.
Stars are one of the most important components of the universe, and their influence on the universe cannot be ignored. The number of stars in the universe is a huge number, which can range from 20 trillion to 40 trillion according to different studies and estimates. However, the latest research suggests that the number of stars in the universe may well exceed this range, reaching around 3,000 trillion yuan. The Sun, which provides us with the energy to survive, is just the most ordinary of these stars, neither too big nor too small.
The influence of stars on the universe is mainly manifested in providing energy and light, releasing matter and energy, carrying chemical elements, and affecting the formation and evolution of galaxies.
The closest star to the Sun in the universe is Proxima Centauri, located about 4.22 light-years from our solar system. It is located in the constellation Centauri and is made up of three stars that together form a three-star system. This star system is widely discussed as a backdrop in the science fiction novel The Three-Body Problem, demonstrating its scientific and literary importance.