stars

[artanswer]

how many stars within 5 light years of earth

[Clanad]

As far as we know right now, only 3... Proxima Centauri @ 4.2LY, Alpha Centauri A @ 4.3LY and Alpha Centauri B also @ 4.3LY ( a double star system) .  Barnard's Star is 5.96LY distant... just outside of your parameters... Each of these varies greatly in magnitude... from 11.3 for Proxima Centauri to .33 for Alpha Centauri A... Our own sun, by contrast is -26.9.  The faintest stars have the higher numbers, while the brighter ones have smaller numbers with reference to  magnitude.  Long answer for a short question...

[bernardo]

4 if you count the Sun

[jake-the-peg]

Barnards star is intersting. It has the highest proper motion of any known star. It's actually getting closer to us by 140km per second and will get to under 4 light years from us in about 10,000 years time.

Plans are already in place for a probe to intercept it for a dope test.