Final answer:
Approaching the solar system in a spaceship, you would see the Sun surrounded by planets, moons, and smaller objects. The light from the Sun, which seems to travel in nearly parallel rays due to its distance, would guide you towards its location. Navigation and development of civilization on Earth have benefited from our Sun's positioning in a low-density region of interstellar matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you were approaching the solar system in a spaceship, you would begin to observe the central star, our Sun, which dominates the system. The Sun is at the heart of a complex system, surrounded by eight major planets, many dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, and countless smaller objects like comets and asteroids. As you pass through screens of "empty space," these celestial bodies become points of interest. Your onboard instruments could display your current distance from the Sun, allowing you to track your approach.
Light from the Sun travels 150 million kilometers to reach Earth, and though this distance is vast, it is not infinite. Therefore, the light rays arriving at Earth from the Sun are nearly parallel, making them appear to come from the same direction, a phenomenon that would be evident as you draw closer in your spacecraft. The golden age of planetary exploration has expanded our knowledge of these celestial bodies significantly, likening them to other worlds each with their own unique geological and chemical history, sights, and potential for interplanetary tourism.
Imagine the Sun was located in a dense interstellar cloud. Navigation and civilization development on Earth would have been profoundly affected, as the bright light from outside stars would be dimmed, making it challenging for early navigators who relied on the stars for direction. Thankfully, our Sun is located in a region where the density of interstellar matter is low, allowing unobstructed observation of the surrounding cosmos.