What is the nearest star to the sun?

Answer 1

The star we call Alpha Centauri lies 4.35 light-years from the Sun. But it is actually a triple star system. The two brightest components Alpha Centauri A and B form a binary. They orbit each other in 80 years with a mean separation of 23 astronomical units (1 astronomical unit = 1 AU = distance between the Sun and Earth). The third member of the system Alpha Centauri C lies 13,000 AU from A and B, or 400 times the distance between the Sun and Neptune. This is so far that it is not known whether Alpha Centauri C is really bound to A and B, or if it will have left the system in some million years. Alpha Centauri C lies measurably closer to us than the other two: It is only 4.22 light-years away, and it is the nearest individual star to the Sun. Because of this proximity, Alpha Centauri C is also called Proxima (Centauri).

Alpha Centauri is a special star - not only because it is the closest stellar system to the sun but also because it is one of the relatively few places in our galaxy that may offer terrestrial life conditions.

Alpha Centauri A is a yellow star with a spectral type of G2, exactly the same as the Sun's. Therefore its temperature and color also match those of the Sun. Alpha Centauri B is an orange star with a spectral type of K1. Whereas Alpha Centauri A and B are stars like the Sun, Proxima is a dim red dwarf with a spectral type of M5 - much fainter, cooler, and smaller than the Sun. Proxima is so faint that astronomers did not discover it until 1915.

Barnard Star is a dim red main-sequence dwarf and is second closest to the Sun, located at about 5.97 light years and rapidly getting closer.

Answer 2

Proxima centauri is 4.2 light years away. It is a red dwarf that is one of the component of Alpha Centaury triple star system, the other two stars, quite similar to the sun, are 4.3 light years away. It cannot be seen without telescope as it is too dim.

Contrary to what another poster answered, Barnards star is the second closest system, 6 light years away. It is also a red dwarf, and cannot be seen without a telescope.

Answer 3

The closest star to the sun is Proxima Centauri, but its brighter neighbor Alpha Centauri, a double star, is so nearly the same distance that data about it are usually given. It is about 4 light years distance, or about 3.8x1016 m.


The closest star to the sun is Proxima Centauri, but its brighter neighbor Alpha Centauri, a double star, is so nearly the same distance that data about it are usually given. It is about 4 light years distance, or about 3.8x1016 m. If our sun, which has diameter 1.392 x 109 meters were scaled down to the size of a period on a printed page, which is nominally about 0.5 mm, then the distance to Alpha Centauri would be about 13.6 km or about 8 miles away. If the Earth were scaled to 0.5 mm diameter, then the Sun would be a ball of diameter 5.4 cm ( a little smaller than a tennis ball) at a distance of 5.9 m (19 ft). On this scale, Alpha Centauri would be 1.48 x 106 meters or about 890 miles away. If the sun were scaled to a 1 foot radius, then Alpha Centauri would be about 10,300 miles away

Proxima Centauri
This star is notable for being the closest star to the sun, but its brighter neighbor Alpha Centauri, a double star, is so nearly the same distance that data about it are usually given. It is about 4 light years distance, or about 3.8x1016 m from the sun.

With its unique status as the closest star, Proxima Centauri, is an often quoted example of parallax distance measurement. The apparent ellipse in which Proxima Centauri moves during the year as a result of the Earth's orbit around the sun is about the size of a dime observed at three miles distance. Its parallax is 0.762 arcsec, corresponding to a distance of 1.31 parsecs

Barnard's Star
Barnard's star is remarkable as a close star which is thought to have planets. The variations in its position indicate the presence of at least one and probably more than one non-luminous body orbiting it.

This star is also remarkable because it exhibits the largest proper motion, moving against the background of more distant stars by 10.3 arcseconds per year. Its distance is 5.9 light years.



http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/starlog/strclos.html

Answer 4

Proxima Centauri.

Answer 5

"Proxima" Because it is the nearest star to the
Sun, it is named Proxima (from the Latin word for "nearest") Centauri.

Answer 6

Barnard's Star is less than 2 light years away

Answer 7

Proxima Centauri .... 4.2 light years away... Barnard's is 6.0 light years away.

Answer 8

I have no idea, the nearest planet is mercury.

Answer 9

Serius..,the dog star.., I think.. I could be wrong though..,?

Answer 10

dude i have no clue try google.