Proxima Centauri

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf which is located about 4.25 light-years from the Sun. It is located in the Centaurus Constellation. In August 2016 an Earth-size planet was discovered orbiting it. Nearest Star to Solar System and to Sun.

Astronomers discovered the closest possible Earth-like planet outside our solar system.

About Proxima Centauri

Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the solar system. It is also called Alpha Centauri C. It is part of the Alpha Centauri system which consist of three stars including Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B. It is the dimmest star out of the three stars.

Where?

It orbits our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri. It is located 4.2 light years away.

Proxima Centauri Location in Comparison to Earth / Sun.

Size

Proxima Centauri star is much smaller than our Sun and much cooler.

At the present time (2016), Astronomers have discovered one explolanet in the Promixa Centauri Solar System and it is called Promix B.

Proxima B planet orbits about 7.5 million kms (4.6 million miles) from its Proxima Centuari star (about a tenth the distance of innermost planet Mercury from the Sun). It has a mass of about 1.3 times that of Earth.

How Big is Proxima Centauri?

Viewing

It cannot be viewed with the naked eye.

Discovery

Proxima Centauri star was discovered by astronomer Robert Innes (Scottish) in 1915.

Planet Discoverers

It was discovered by an international team led by astronomer Guillem Anglada-Escudé at Queen Mary University in London. It was announced on Wednesday 24th August 2016.

Name

Newly discovered planet (exoplanet) has been temporarily named Proxima B.

Did you know?

* The Star System is called Alpha Centauri System.

* Alpha Centauri A and B are similar to our own sun.

Proxima Centauri Links

Is Proxima Centauri b the most promising exoplanet yet?
Neighbouring star Proxima Centauri has Earth-sized planet: BBC – Aug 2016

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