Star · M5.5 V
Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri is a main-sequence star of spectral type M5.5 V in the constellation Centaurus, 4.25 light-years from the Sun. It is orbited by 2 confirmed exoplanet(s).
| Other names | Proxima Cen · Gl 551 · HIP 70890 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Distance | 4.25 light-years (1.30 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 11.01 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 15.44 |
| Spectral type | M5.5 V |
| Surface temperature | 2,900 K |
| Luminosity | 0.00151 L☉ |
| Radius | 0.141 R☉ |
| Mass | 0.122 M☉ |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 29m 45.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −62° 40′ 37″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 32.4 km/s |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 11.01. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 27° N. South of latitude 27° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in April, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 2022. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 75 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Proxima Centauri, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 0.40, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cassiopeia. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Planets
- Proxima Cen d 5.12-day orbit · 0.692 R⊕
- Proxima Cen b 11.2-day orbit · 1.02 R⊕
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- Toliman 0.18 light-years
- Rigil Kentaurus 0.18 light-years
- Luhman 16 3.52 light-years
- Sun 4.25 light-years
- Barnard's Star 6.56 light-years
- WISE J085510.83-071442.5 7.94 light-years
- Ross 154 8.25 light-years
- Wolf 359 8.30 light-years
Stellar parameters from the NASA Exoplanet Archive; position and brightness from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue.