some 4.5° west,[51] points to the constellation Crux—the Southern Cross. [105], Based on observations between 2007 and 2012, a study found a slight excess of emissions in the 24 µm (mid/far-infrared) band surrounding α Centauri AB, which may be interpreted as evidence for a sparse circumstellar disc or dense interplanetary dust. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. ", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society, "Light Curve Generator (LCG) – aavso.org", "On Frederick de Houtman's Catalogue of Southern Stars, and the Origin of the Southern Constellations", "Sixth Catalogue of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars : Ephemeris (2008)", "De Caelo (On the Heavens): Book II. The Sun would appear as a yellow star of apparent magnitude +0.47, roughly the same as the average brightness of Betelgeuse from Earth. [92][98] Despite these difficulties, given the similarities to the Sun in spectral types, star type, age and probable stability of the orbits, it has been suggested that this stellar system could hold one of the best possibilities for harbouring extraterrestrial life on a potential planet. [90][91], In 2009, computer simulations showed that a planet might have been able to form near the inner edge of Alpha Centauri B's habitable zone, which extends from 0.5 to 0.9 AU from the star. In addition, the lack of any brown dwarfs or gas giants in close orbits around Alpha Centauri make the likelihood of terrestrial planets greater than otherwise. NY 10036. Alpha Centauriの競走馬データです。競走成績、血統情報、産駒情報などをはじめ、50万頭以上の競走馬・騎手・調教師・馬主・生産者・レースの全データがご覧いただけます。 [36], By 1926, William Stephen Finsen calculated the approximate orbit elements close to those now accepted for this system. In Ptolemy's time, Alpha Centauri was visible from Alexandria, Egypt, at 31° N, but, due to precession, its declination is now –60° 51′ South, and it can no longer be seen at that latitude. Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. [69][70] He then realised this system also likely had a high proper motion. [17] Their elliptical orbit is eccentric, so that the distance between A and B varies from 35.6 AU (astronomical units), or about the distance between Pluto and the Sun, to 11.2 AU, or about the distance between Saturn and the Sun. To reach the system within a human lifetime, one would need to travel at one-tenth of the speed of light. [74], Since Alpha Centauri AB is almost exactly in the plane of the Milky Way as viewed from Earth, there are many stars behind them. It has an absolute magnitude of +15.60, over 20,000 times fainter than the Sun. Learn more about Alpha Centauri in our full infographic. "This is Alpha Centauri, our neighboring star," Milner said in a news conference yesterday (April 12). [22], A third name that has been applied is Bungula (/ˈbʌŋɡjuːlə/), of obscure origin. [118][119][120] An objective of such a mission would be to make a fly-by of, and possibly photograph, planets that might exist in the system. In 2012, researchers used an instrument called the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher to detect a planet around Alpha Centauri B. [80] Were it a planetary companion, it would have to be at most 0.29 Earth masses, but it could also be random noise found in the data. © Please refresh the page and try again. New York, Alpha Centauri (Latinized from α Centauri, abbreviated Alpha Cen or α Cen) is the closest star system and closest planetary system to Earth's Solar System at 4.37 light-years (1.34 parsecs) from the Sun. [45] Alpha Centauri B has an apparent magnitude of +1.35, slightly dimmer than Mimosa.[15].