* Protostars form within nebulae: Protostars are the early stages of star formation, and they develop within vast clouds of gas and dust called nebulae. These nebulae can be spread across enormous distances.
* Different nebulae, different distances: Nebulae exist both within and outside our galaxy, the Milky Way. So, a protostar could be very close to the Sun (within the Milky Way) or incredibly far away (in another galaxy).
* The Sun's position is not the only factor: The position of a protostar relative to the Sun isn't the only important factor. The distance of a protostar to the Sun is constantly changing as the star and the nebula itself move through space.
To get a better idea of distances:
* Local nebulae: Some nebulae, like the Orion Nebula, are relatively close to our Sun (around 1,500 light-years).
* Distant nebulae: Many nebulae reside within our galaxy but are much farther away, even tens of thousands of light-years.
* Other galaxies: Many protostars form in galaxies far beyond our own, millions or even billions of light-years away.
In short: There's no single answer to your question. Protostars form in diverse locations across the cosmos, making their distances from the Sun highly variable.
