Eli5: How does light pollution affect our ability to see stars?

Question

When there is less light pollution, you can see loads of stars, but when there is a lot of light pollution, you see much less stars. What is the science behind this?

In: 3

Answer 1

Close and brighter light source overwhelms the distant one.

We technically can for the most part see the moon all day long but because the sun is so bright it obscures the moon.