I always have a bunch of solar powered lawn lights attached to stanchions so that light is just above deck level. Not only do you know it's not a star, but additionally, it lights up the cabin top and deck as well. No question as to whether there's a boat in front of you when you're lit up like this. Plus, it makes getting around on deck at night a whole lot easier. Think about it.
Gary
The problem with most of those Home Cheapo/Harbor Fright 'solutions' that I've seen, is they tend not to last much more than a few hours past Cruiser's Midnight...
They were very popular among the cruisers I saw down in the Bay Islands, and Belize... Unfortunately, a virtually worthless solution, in many cases...
Deck level anchor lights are a great idea, of course... But, do it right, get yourself a 'real' one, like the ones Bebi used to make... The older Davis Megalights were pretty faint, but the newer ones with the LEDs are pretty decent... suspended above the boom from something like a topping lift, they'll light up your sail cover and rest of the boat pretty well...
Really a pity that Bebi is gone, those lights are awesome, hopefully they'll be resurrected at some point...
Another suggestion to increase deck-level visibility... Get yourself about 2' of the 2" wide adhesive SOLAS reflective tape, and put a small square of it on the outside of the stanchions and rails around the perimeter of your boat, that stuff really helps...