Final answer:
The nearest star beyond the Sun is approximately 4 light years away. The closest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, which is about 4.2 light years away.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nearest star beyond the Sun is approximately 4 light years away. The distance to the nearest stars can be measured using a technique called parallax, which involves measuring the shift in the position of a star against background distant stars as Earth orbits around the Sun. By using this method, astronomers have determined that the nearest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, which is about 4.2 light years away.