2006-08-15 22:22:41 · 12 answers · asked by midhu 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The closest star which is known to have a planet orbitting it is Epsilon Eridani. It's part of the constellation Eridanus which is supposed to look like a river. It's planet is just called Epsilon Eridani b and there might be an Epsilon Eridani c. (There isn't an "a" though). It's 10.4 light years away. Other "solar systems" don't seem to be given names. Ours is called the solar system because another name for our sun is "Sol". Other planetary systems seem to be referred to by the names of their stars as well.
2006-08-15 23:14:43 · answer #1 · answered by TA Timmy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The nearest1 star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, part of the Alpha Centauri system.
The Alpha Centauri system has two roughly Sun-like stars and one small dim red star better known as Alpha Proxima. The stars of the Alpha Centauri system are the three closest to Earth (other than the Sun) at about four light years away.
2006-08-16 05:37:04 · answer #2 · answered by yogesh T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alpha Proxima II. Its a part of the Alpha Centauri area of our galaxy - the nearest star systems, about four light years away. This is assuming that it does qualify by your definition of a solar system (does it have to have planets or can it just be a star without planets?).
2006-08-16 05:30:50 · answer #3 · answered by Paul H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one solar system, our own. The star name for our sun is Sol. Hence the Solar system means the system that orbits Sol. Other star systems would be named after the star around which they orbit e.g. the Alpha Centauri system etc.
2006-08-18 07:04:49 · answer #4 · answered by uselessadvice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AwsomeBill is nearly right, but not completely.
Alpha Centaury is the closest SUN (Star), at 4.5 light years away.
But we do not know if it has a planetary system.
Since it is the closest Star, and we have not found planets areound, and we HAVE founmd planets around much farther away stars, we can assume that Alpha Centaury is NOT the closest "solar system".
The answer is: we don't know yet!
2006-08-16 05:37:00 · answer #5 · answered by just "JR" 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't have a name for a nearby solar system , its somewhere in our own galaxy , the Milky Way. The nearest galaxy to us is Andromeda
2006-08-16 05:30:21 · answer #6 · answered by notfan_football 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Proxima Centauri-4 light years away.
2006-08-16 05:34:43 · answer #7 · answered by mamanoelia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alpha / Proxima Centauri. Approximately 4.3 light years distant.
2006-08-16 05:29:34 · answer #8 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"the Solar System" i think that is the closest
2006-08-16 05:28:52 · answer #9 · answered by afbb12 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a lot of junk orbiting Vega, which is only 25 light years away. Nobody knows if there are planets hidden in that junk yet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega
2006-08-16 05:36:20 · answer #10 · answered by Luis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋