Here's why it's used:
* Immensity of space: The universe is incredibly vast, and we can only observe a small fraction of it. Astronomers estimate that there are trillions upon trillions of stars in the observable universe.
* Limitations of human perception: Even if we could count them, the sheer number of stars overwhelms our ability to grasp their magnitude.
* Metaphorical use: The phrase is also used metaphorically to represent something that is extremely abundant or difficult to quantify, like the grains of sand on a beach or the possibilities in the future.
In short, "innumerable stars" emphasizes the overwhelming abundance and vastness of the celestial bodies that populate the universe.