Alpha Centauri is a binary star system, commonly known as Alpha Centauri AB
Alpha Centauri A is about the same size and age as our Sun with a spectral type of G2V
Alpha Centauri B is about 14% smaller that our Sun and a lot cooler having a spectral type of K1V
There is a third star, not surprisingly called Alpha Centauri C or Proxima Centauri which is the closest star to Earth.
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A star system
Alpha Centauri (Rigil Kentaurus, Rigil Kent, or Toliman) is a binary star systemAlpha Centauri A is a G2 star or yellow dwarf - very similar to our own SunAlpha Centauri B is a K1 star or orange dwarf.and possibly a triple star system.Alpha Centauri C (Proxima Centauri) is a M5 star or red dwarfAlpha Centauri (Rigil Kentaurus) is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Although it appears to us as a single object, Alpha Centauri is actually a binary star system.Alpha Centauri A has a spectral type of G2V - so it is a yellow dwarf.Alpha Centauri B has a spectral type of G2V - so it is an orange dwarf.
Alpha Centauri is a binary (Possibly triple) star system.Alpha Centauri A/B is 4.37 light years from us.Alpha Centauri C is 4.243 light years from us.
Let's get our nomenclature right here. Alpha Centauri is a triple star system: Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B are a fairly close double of stars roughly like the Sun, and Alpha Centauri C is a much dimmer red dwarf orbiting the pair at a considerably greater distance. It just so happens that C's orbit brings it at times closer to the Sun than any other star that we currently know about. So Alpha Centauri C is sometimes itself called Proxima.
No one knows for sure, but one possible candidate is the Alpha Centauri system, where Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B orbit each other at a distance of only 11.2 Au which is the equivalence of our Sun to Saturn.
Alpha Centauri is a star, it cannot have satellites. Satellites orbit planets.
Proxima Centauri Alpha Centauri A Alpha Centauri B
A star system
Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system. Its a binary star system of Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B. If someone asks you what is the nearest star ? then the answer will be "proxima centauri" in my opinion. nearest star: proxima centauri nearest star system: Alpha centauri A and B. Some people believe that its a triple star system of Prixma, Alpha A and Alpha B. centauri.
Alpha Centauri is a triple star system. Alpha Centauri A, B & C or Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A & B are 4.37 light years from the Earth whereas Alpha Centauri C is 4.243 light years.
Alpha Centauri AB is a binary star system. It is 4.37 light years away from our Sun. Both Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B are in close orbit around each other, so the same distance is valid for both.
1. The sun 2. Proxima Centauri 3. Alpha Centauri A 4. Alpha Centauri B 5. Barnard's Star
The third closest star will be either Alpha Centauri A or Alpha Centauri B depending on the time of observation.
Alpha Centauri, although it appears to the naked eye as a single star, is a binary pair. Together they are designated Alpha Centauri AB, the more massive and luminous in the pair designated Alpha Centauri A, the less massive and luminous Alpha Centauri B. Together, this pair is the third brightest "star" in the night sky. There is a third star probably interacting gravitationally with the pair, Proxima Centauri, also designated Alpha Centauri C, a red dwarf which is not visible to the naked eye but is the next closest star to our Sun. Alpha Centauri B has about 90% of the mass of our Sun and is about 45% as bright. Note that Alpha Centauri B is not the "second" star (second brightest) in the constellation Centaurus: that is Beta Centauri, which is itself a trinary star system.
Proxima Centauri, which is probably part of the Toliman (Alpha Centauri) system.Proxima Centauri, which is probably part of the Toliman (Alpha Centauri) system.Proxima Centauri, which is probably part of the Toliman (Alpha Centauri) system.Proxima Centauri, which is probably part of the Toliman (Alpha Centauri) system.
Alpha Centauri A (Rigil Kentaurus) is a type G2V star - which is the same as our Sun so it has a colour of yellow.Alpha Centauri is abinary star system.Alpha Centauri A - the primary star, is a G2V star so has the apparent colour of yellowish-white, the same as our Sun.Alpha Centauri B - the secondary star, is a K1V star so has the apparent colour of yellow-orange.
Alpha Centauri has a temperature ranging from 5,000-6,000K.