Alpha Centauri (system)

Alpha Centauri is the closest star system and closest planetary system to Earth's Solar System at 4.37 light-years (1.34 parsecs) from the Sun. The name is latinized from α Centauri, and abbreviated Alpha Cen or α Cen. It is a triple star system, consisting of three stars: Alpha Centauri A (officially Rigel Kentaurus), Alpha Centauri B, and Alpha Centauri C (officially Proxima Centauri).

Alpha Centauri A and B are Sun-like stars (Class G and K), and together they form the binary star Alpha Centauri AB. To the naked eye, the two main components appear to be a single star with an apparent magnitude of −0.27, the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus and the third-brightest in the night sky, outshone only by Sirius and Canopus. Proxima Centauri or Alpha Centauri C is a small and faint red dwarf star (class M). Though not visible to the naked eye, Proxima Centauri is the nearest star to the Sun at a distance of 4.24 light-years (1.30 pc), slightly closer than Alpha Centauri AB.