Davening maariv before the stars emerge

Hi,

It is better to daven Maariv with a minyan right after sunset, rather than wait until after the stars emerge and daven privately.

However, if the minyan davens maariv at the same time as minchah, then it would be better to daven maariv after the stars emerge, in private. [I believe Rav Moshe means to include cases in which the community davens both minchah and maariv before plag, and where they daven both minchah and maariv after plag and before sunset.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:60)

Have a great day,
Mordechai