Map of the Universe
Proxima Centauri
Star · Nearest star to the Solar System
About Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri is about 4.23 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 4.23 years ago.
At apparent magnitude 11.01 it can only be seen through a telescope.
It gives out 5.77 × 10⁻⁵ times as much light as the Sun.
It has 2 known planets.
The map lists it as a star and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The nearest star to the Sun. Has at least two confirmed planets, including Proxima b in the habitable zone.
Key numbers
| Distance | 4.23 light-years (1.30 pc) |
|---|---|
| Spectral type | M5Ve |
| Apparent magnitude | 11.01 |
| Absolute magnitude | 15.45 |
| Luminosity | 5.77 × 10⁻⁵ × the Sun |
| Constellation | Cen |
| Known planets | 2 |
Planets: NASA Exoplanet Archive (Planetary Systems Composite Parameters).
Known planets
| Planet | Mass (Earth = 1) | Radius (Earth = 1) | Orbit (days) | Found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proxima Cen d | 0.26 | 0.692 | 5.12338 | 2025, radial velocity |
| Proxima Cen b | 1.055 | 1.02 | 11.18465 | 2016, radial velocity |
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Solar neighbourhood › Local Bubble › Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: Nearest stars, a view about 24 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Proxima Centauri is the nearest star to Earth after the Sun, located 4.25 light-years away in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Discovered in 1915 by Robert Innes, it is a small, low-mass star, too faint to be seen with the naked eye, with an apparent magnitude of 11.13.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Proxima Centauri, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- Alpha Centauri B Star
- Barnard's Star Star
- Sun's Hill sphere Region / boundary
- Ross 154 Star
- Wolf 359 Star
- Sirius Star