How Far Away Is The Zeta Reticuli 1+2 Star System?

Question

Does anyone know how far away it is? I think NASA is firing it's probes in the wrong places, if you know what I mean.

Answer 1

The ζ Reticuli binary lies some 39 light years from the sun. Making a few rough calculations, and taking into account that Voyager 1, for example, has now slowed to a rate of 38,400 miles per hour, any probe we sent at the same rate of progress would take approximately 680,000 years to reach this system.

Answer 2

The stars, 39 light years away from us, designated ζ1 Reticuli and ζ2 Reticuli, are both yellow dwarf (main sequence) stars remarkably similar to our Sun. The stars are approximately 9,000 AU apart. The stars revolve around each other once in over a million years.

No close-in giant planets have been detected around either of the components, making Earth-like terrestrial planets possible. However, the stars are only 60% as enriched with metals as the Sun. Small, terrestrial planets around less metal-rich stars are less likely according to our current knowledge, though gas giant development is not impeded by this.

However the reports from the self-styled abductees Betty and Barney Hill who claim they were captured and interviewed in 1961 describe a terrestrial planet, thr fourth in the ζ2 Reticuli system from which their captors originated.

It doesn't seem strong enough evidence for NASA to prioritise ζ1 Reticuli and ζ2 Reticuli in the hunt for extra-terrestrial life, not when there are known planets around Gliese 876 (15.3 light years away and apparent magnitude of 10.18) and Epsilon Eridani (10.5 light years away and apparent magnitude of 3,73), closer to hand ,,,

Answer 3

I totally know what you mean but I odn't know how far it is. If you don't get an answer you like try google earth an dit should give you the right answer.

Answer 4

39.51/39.38 ly

(Long way off)