Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to Sun. Alpha Centauri system seems to have formed earlier than our Solar System. It is the third brightest star in the sky. Alpha Centauri is located in the constellation Centaurus. It lies 4.35 light-years from the Sun. Alpha Centauri is a triple star system that includes:

Alpha Centauri A
Alpha Centauri B
Proxima Centauri.

Alpha Centauri A is also known as Rigil Kentaurus. Alpha Centauri A is a yellow star, slightly larger and brighter than the Sun. Alpha Centauri A is the same type of star as our Sun, causing many to speculate that it might contain planets that harbor life. Alpha Centauri B is a yellow-orange star somewhat smaller and cooler than the Sun. Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B is largest and brightest members, which form a binary system together. The average distance between Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B is about 3.6 billion km. They circle their common center of gravity about once every 80 years.

Proxima Centauri is a tiny, faint, red dwarf star much smaller and cooler than the Sun. It is the dimmest. It is the closest star to the solar system, at a distance of 4.2 light-years. Proxima Centauri orbits A and B at a tremendous distance of about 1,500 billion km that is roughly one fifth of a light year. It takes millions of years to circle Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B.

This triple star system appears as a single point of light because Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, are too close together for the naked eye to tell them apart and Proxima Centauri is too small and dim to be seen at all.

The Alpha Centauri system is only visible from latitudes of about 25° in the Southern Hemisphere. Alpha Centauri is famous in the Southern Hemisphere as the outermost "pointer" to the Southern Cross.

Alpha Centauri is a special place, because it may offer life conditions similar to our solar system. If humanity looks for intelligent life elsewhere, then Alpha Centauri is an excellent candidate.

Alpha Centauri

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