Star · G2V
Rigil Kentaurus
Rigil Kentaurus is a main-sequence star of spectral type G2V in the constellation Centaurus, 4.32 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | α¹ Cen · Gl 559A · HIP 71683 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Distance | 4.32 light-years (1.32 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude −0.01 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 4.38 |
| Spectral type | G2V |
| Surface temperature | 5,570 K |
| Luminosity | 1.72 L☉ |
| Radius | 1.41 R☉ |
| Mass | 1.15 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 39m 36.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −60° 50′ 02″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 28.1 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude −0.01). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 29° N. South of latitude 29° 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 77 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Rigil Kentaurus, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 0.44, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cassiopeia. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- Toliman 0.00 light-years
- Proxima Centauri 0.18 light-years
- Luhman 16 3.59 light-years
- Sun 4.32 light-years
- Barnard's Star 6.45 light-years
- WISE J085510.83-071442.5 8.04 light-years
- Ross 154 8.13 light-years
- Wolf 359 8.32 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.