2007-02-21 05:13:43 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Proxima Centauri (meaning the nearest to us in the Centaurus constellation) is 4.22 light years away. That is about 25 trillion miles.
Even though it is the nearest star to us, our current technology is not equal to getting a manned spacecraft there, let alone home again.
The current standard spaceship, the Space Shuttle, travels in orbit at 7.8 km/s. At that speed, it would take 160,000 years to reach Proxima.
The fastest man-made spacecraft, the Helios II deep space probe, has set a speed record of 70.2 km/s. Even at that speed, the journey to Proxima Centauri would take 18,000 years.
The proposed VASIMR propulsion system, possibly able to achieve speeds up to 300 km/s, would shorten the journey to a "mere" 4,200 years —still firmly beyond the current lifespan of both man and machine.
2007-02-21 06:19:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Proxima Centauri(you misspelled the word "Centauri" as "Century")
is approximately 4.2 light years away from us.
Yet it is the nearest star to us.
2007-02-25 08:10:07 · answer #2 · answered by Shivani P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 4 lightyears give or take a lightmonth.
` 5.87 x 10E12 miles
2007-02-21 13:19:21 · answer #3 · answered by lunatic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nearest star to us it is 4 light years from us
2007-02-24 04:38:06 · answer #4 · answered by Dr Umesh Bilagi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 light years. If you want miles, convert 186,000 miles per SECOND to miles.
2007-02-21 14:38:13 · answer #5 · answered by wiscman77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the distance is 4.3 light years.
2007-02-22 02:00:24 · answer #6 · answered by ekdilipkumar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋