Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri
Coordinates: 14h 39m 36.4951s, −60° 50′ 02.308″
Alpha Centauri (α Centauri, Alpha Cen, or α Cen)

is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Alpha Centauri AB[note 1]
Centaurus. It consists of three stars: Rigil Kentaurus
(Alpha Centauri A), Toliman (B) and Proxima
Centauri (C).[13] Proxima Centauri is the closest star
to the Sun at 4.2465 light-years (1.3020 pc).
Alpha Centauri A and B are Sun-like stars (Class G

and K, respectively), and together form the binary star
system Alpha Centauri AB. To the naked eye, the two
main components appear to be a single star with an
apparent magnitude of −0.27. It is the brightest star in
the constellation and the third-brightest in the night
sky, outshone only by Sirius and Canopus. Alpha Centauri AB (left) forms a triple star system with
Proxima Centauri, circled in red. The bright star
Alpha Centauri A has 1.1 times the mass and 1.5 times system to the right is Beta Centauri.
the luminosity of the Sun, while Alpha Centauri B is Observation data
smaller and cooler, at 0.9 solar mass and less than 0.5 Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0
solar luminosity.[14] The pair orbit around a common
Constellation Centaurus
centre with an orbital period of 79 years.[15] Their
elliptical orbit is eccentric, so that the distance between Alpha Centauri A
A and B varies from 35.6 astronomical units (AU), or Right ascension 14h 39m 36.49400s[1]
about the distance between Pluto and the Sun, to 11.2
Declination −60° 50′ 02.3737″
AU, or about the distance between Saturn and the
Sun. Apparent magnitude (V) +0.01[2]
Alpha Centauri B
Alpha Centauri C, or Proxima Centauri, is a small
faint red dwarf (Class M). Though not visible to the Right ascension 14h 39m 35.06311s[1]
naked eye, Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Declination −60° 50′ 15.0992″
Sun at a distance of 4.24 ly (1.30 pc), slightly closer
Apparent magnitude (V) +1.33[2]
than Alpha Centauri AB. Currently, the distance
between Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri AB is Characteristics
about 13,000 AU (0.21 ly),[16] equivalent to about A
430 times the radius of Neptune's orbit.
Spectral type G2V[3]
Proxima Centauri has two confirmed planets: Proxima U−B color index +0.24
b, an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone
B−V color index +0.71[2]
discovered in 2016, and Proxima d, a candidate sub-
Earth which orbits very closely to the star, announced B
in 2022.[17] The existence of Proxima c, a mini- Spectral type K1V[3]
Neptune 1.5 AU away discovered in 2019, is
U−B color index +0.68
controversial.[18] Alpha Centauri A may have a
candidate Neptune-sized planet in the habitable zone, B−V color index +0.88[2]
though it is not yet known to be planetary in nature Astrometry
and could be an artifact of the discovery
A
mechanism.[19] Alpha Centauri B has no known
Radial velocity (Rv) −21.4 ± 0.76 [4] km/s
planets: planet Bb, purportedly discovered in 2012, Proper motion (μ) RA: −3679.25[1] mas/yr
was later disproven,[20] and no other planet has yet Dec.: 473.67[1] mas/yr
been confirmed.
Parallax (π) 750.81 ± 0.38 mas[5]
Distance 4.344 ± 0.002 ly
Etymology and nomenclature (1.3319 ± 0.0007 pc)
α Centauri (Latinised to Alpha Centauri) is the Absolute magnitude (MV) 4.38[6]

system's designation given by Johann Bayer in 1603. B
It bears the traditional name Rigil Kentaurus, which is
Radial velocity (Rv) −18.6 ± 1.64[4] km/s
a Latinisation of the Arabic name ‫ رجل القنطورس‬Rijl
al-Qinṭūrus, meaning 'the Foot of the Centaur'.[21][22] Proper motion (μ) RA: −3614.39[1] mas/yr
The name is frequently abbreviated to Rigil Kent or Dec.: +802.98[1] mas/yr
even Rigil, though the latter name is better known for Parallax (π) 750.81 ± 0.38 mas[5]
Rigel (Beta Orionis).[23]
Distance 4.344 ± 0.002 ly
An alternative name found in European sources, (1.3319 ± 0.0007 pc)
Toliman, is an approximation of the Arabic ‫الظليمان‬ Absolute magnitude (MV) 5.71[6]
aẓ-Ẓalīmān (in older transcription, aṭ-Ṭhalīmān),
Orbit[5]
meaning 'the (two male) Ostriches', an appellation
Zakariya al-Qazwini had applied to Lambda and Mu Primary A
Sagittarii, also in the southern hemisphere.[24] Companion B
A third name that has been used is Bungula Period (P) 79.762 ± 0.019 yr
(/ˈbʌŋɡjuːlə/). Its origin is not known, but it may have Semi-major axis (a) 17.493 ± 0.0096″
been coined from the Greek letter beta (β) and Latin Eccentricity (e) 0.519 47 ± 0.000 15
ungula 'hoof'.[23]
Inclination (i) 79.243 ± 0.0089°
Alpha Centauri C was discovered in 1915 by Robert Longitude of the node (Ω) 205.073 ± 0.025°
T. A. Innes,[25] who suggested that it be named
Periastron epoch (T) 1 875.66 ± 0.012
Proxima Centaurus,[26] from Latin 'the nearest [star]
of Centaurus'.[27] The name Proxima Centauri later Argument of periastron (ω) 231.519 ± 0.027°
became more widely used and is now listed by the (secondary)
International Astronomical Union (IAU) as the Details
approved proper name.[28][29] Alpha Centauri A
In 2016, the Working Group on Star Names of the Mass 1.0788 ± 0.0029[5] M☉
IAU,[13] having decided to attribute proper names to Radius 1.2175 ± 0.0055[5] R☉
individual component stars rather than to multiple
Luminosity 1.5059 ± 0.0019[5] L☉
systems,[30] approved the name Rigil Kentaurus
(/ˈraɪdʒəl kɛnˈtɔːrəs/) as being restricted to Alpha Surface gravity (log g) 4.30[7] cgs
Centauri A and the name Proxima Centauri Temperature 5,790 K
(/ˈprɒksɪmə sɛnˈtɔːraɪ/) for Alpha Centauri C.[31] On
Metallicity [Fe/H] <0.20 dex
10 August 2018, the IAU approved the name Toliman
(/ˈtɒlɪmæn/) for Alpha Centauri B.[32] Rotation 28.3 ± 0.5 d[8]
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 2.7 ± 0.7[9] km/s
Observation Age 4.85 Gyr
Alpha Centauri B
To the naked eye, Alpha Centauri AB appears to be a
single star, the brightest in the southern constellation of Mass 0.9092 ± 0.0025[5] M☉
Centaurus.[33] Their apparent angular separation Radius 0.8591 ± 0.0036[5] R☉
varies over about 80 years between 2 and 22 Luminosity 0.4981 ± 0.0007[5] L☉
arcseconds (the naked eye has a resolution of 60
Surface gravity (log g) 4.37[7] cgs
arcsec),[34] but through much of the orbit, both are
easily resolved in binoculars or small telescopes.[35] Temperature 5,260 K
At −0.27 apparent magnitude (combined for A and B
Metallicity [Fe/H] 0.23 dex
magnitudes), Alpha Centauri is a first-magnitude star
and is fainter only than Sirius and Canopus.[33] It is Rotation 36.7 ± 0.3 d[10]
the outer star of The Pointers or The Southern Rotational velocity (v sin i) 1.1 ± 0.8[11] km/s
Pointers,[35] so called because the line through Beta Age 5.3 ± 0.3[12] Gyr
Centauri (Hadar/Agena),[36] some 4.5° west,[35]
points to the constellation Crux—the Southern Other designations
Cross.[35] The Pointers easily distinguish the true Gliese 559, FK5 538, CD−60°5483,
Southern Cross from the fainter asterism known as the CCDM J14396-6050, GC 19728
False Cross.[37] α Cen A: Rigil Kentaurus, Rigil Kent, α1 Centauri, HR
5459, HD 128620, GCTP 3309.00, LHS 50, SAO
South of about 29° South latitude, Alpha Centauri is
circumpolar and never sets below the horizon.[note 2] 252838, HIP 71683
North of about 29° N latitude, Alpha Centauri never α Cen B: Toliman, α2 Centauri, HR 5460, HD 128621,
rises. Alpha Centauri lies close to the southern horizon LHS 51, HIP 71681
when viewed from the 29° North latitude to the
Database references
equator (close to Hermosillo and Chihuahua City in
Mexico; Galveston, Texas; Ocala, Florida; and SIMBAD AB (https://simbad.cds.
Lanzarote, the Canary Islands of Spain), but only for a unistra.fr/simbad/sim-i
short time around its culmination.[36] The star d?Ident=alpha+centaur
culminates each year at local midnight on 24 April and i)
at local 9 p.m. on 8 June.[36][38] A (https://simbad.cds.u
As seen from Earth, Proxima Centauri is 2.2° nistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?

southwest from Alpha Centauri AB; this distance is Ident=TYC+9007-5849
about four times the angular diameter of the Moon.[39] -1)
Proxima Centauri appears as a deep-red star of a B (https://simbad.cds.u
typical apparent magnitude of 11.1 in a sparsely nistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?
populated star field, requiring moderately sized Ident=TYC+9007-5848
telescopes to be seen. Listed as V645 Cen in the -1)
General Catalogue of Variable Stars Version 4.2, this
UV Ceti star or "flare star" can unexpectedly brighten Exoplanet Archive data (https://exoplanet
rapidly by as much as 0.6 magnitude at visual archive.ipac.caltech.ed
wavelengths, then fade after only a few minutes.[40] u/cgi-bin/DisplayOvervi
Some amateur and professional astronomers regularly ew/nph-DisplayOvervie
monitor for outbursts using either optical or radio w?objname=alpha+cen
telescopes.[41] In August 2015, the largest recorded tauri)
flares of the star occurred, with the star becoming 8.3
ARICNS data (https://wwwadd.z
times brighter than normal on 13 August, in the B
ah.uni-heidelberg.de/d
band (blue light region).[42]
atenbanken/aricns/cns
Alpha Centauri may be inside the G-cloud of the pages/4c01151.htm)
Local Bubble,[43] and its nearest known system is the Extrasolar Planets data (http://exoplanet.e
binary brown dwarf system Luhman 16, at 3.6 light- Encyclopaedia u/star.php?st=alf+cen)
years (1.1 parsecs) from Alpha Centauri.[44]
Observational history
Alpha Centauri is listed in the 2nd-century Almagest, the star catalog of Ptolemy. He gave its ecliptic coordinates,
but texts differ as to whether the ecliptic latitude reads 44° 10′ South or 41° 10′ South.[45] (Presently the ecliptic
latitude is 43.5° South, but it has decreased by a fraction of a degree since Ptolemy's time due to proper motion.)
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. English explorer Robert Hues brought Alpha
Centauri to the attention of European observers in his 1592
work Tractatus de Globis, along with Canopus and Achernar,
noting:
Now, therefore, there are but three Stars of the first

magnitude that I could perceive in all those parts
which are never seene here in England. The first
of these is that bright Star in the sterne of Argo
which they call Canobus [Canopus]. The second
[Achernar] is in the end of Eridanus. The third
Location of Alpha Centauri in Centaurus
[Alpha Centauri] is in the right foote of the
Centaure.[46]
The binary nature of Alpha Centauri AB was recognized in December

1689 by Jean Richaud, while observing a passing comet from his station
in Puducherry. Alpha Centauri was only the second binary star to be
discovered, preceded by Acrux.[47]
The large proper motion of Alpha Centauri AB was discovered by

Manuel John Johnson, observing from Saint Helena, who informed
Thomas Henderson at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope of it.
The parallax of Alpha Centauri was subsequently determined by
Henderson from many exacting positional observations of the AB system
between April 1832 and May 1833. He withheld his results, however,
because he suspected they were too large to be true, but eventually View of Alpha Centauri from the
published them in 1839 after Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel released his own Digitized Sky Survey-2
accurately determined parallax for 61 Cygni in 1838. [48] For this reason,
Alpha Centauri is sometimes considered as the second star to have its
distance measured because Henderson's work was not fully acknowledged at first.[48] (The distance of Alpha
Centauri from the Earth is now reckoned at 4.396 light-years 4.159 × 1014 km.)
Later, John Herschel made the first micrometrical observations in

1834.[50] Since the early 20th century, measures have been made with
photographic plates.[51]
By 1926, William Stephen Finsen calculated the approximate orbit

elements close to those now accepted for this system.[52] All future
positions are now sufficiently accurate for visual observers to determine
the relative places of the stars from a binary star ephemeris.[53] Others,
Alpha Centauri A is of the same like D. Pourbaix (2002), have regularly refined the precision of new
stellar type G2 as the Sun, while published orbital elements.[15]
Alpha Centauri B is a K1-type
star.[49] Robert T. A. Innes discovered Proxima Centauri in 1915 by blinking
photographic plates taken at different times during a proper motion
survey. These showed large proper motion and parallax similar in both
size and direction to those of Alpha Centauri AB, which suggested that Proxima Centauri is part of the Alpha
Centauri system and slightly closer to Earth than Alpha Centauri AB. As such, Innes concluded that Proxima
Centauri was the closest star to Earth yet discovered.
Kinematics
All components of Alpha Centauri display significant proper motion

against the background sky. Over centuries, this causes their apparent
positions to slowly change.[54] Proper motion was unknown to ancient
astronomers. Most assumed that the stars were permanently fixed on the
celestial sphere, as stated in the works of the philosopher Aristotle.[55] In
1718, Edmond Halley found that some stars had significantly moved
from their ancient astrometric positions.[56]
In the 1830s, Thomas Henderson discovered the true distance to Alpha

Diagram of the closest stars to the
Sun
Centauri by analysing his many astrometric mural circle
observations.[57][58] He then realised this system also likely had a high
proper motion.[59][60][52] In this case, the apparent stellar motion was
found using Nicolas Louis de Lacaille's astrometric observations of 1751–1752,[61] by the observed differences
between the two measured positions in different epochs.
Calculated proper motion of the centre of mass for Alpha Centauri AB is about 3620 mas/y (milliarcseconds per
year) toward the west and 694 mas/y toward the north, giving an overall motion of 3686 mas/y in a direction 11°
north of west.[62][note 3] The motion of the centre of mass is about 6.1 arcmin each century, or 1.02° each
millennium. The speed in the western direction is 23.0 km/s (14.3 mi/s) and in the northerly direction 4.4 km/s
(2.7 mi/s). Using spectroscopy the mean radial velocity has been determined to be around 22.4 km/s (13.9 mi/s)
towards the Solar System.[62] This gives a speed with respect to the Sun of 32.4 km/s (20.1 mi/s), very close to
the peak in the distribution of speeds of nearby stars.[63]
Since Alpha Centauri AB is almost exactly in the plane of the Milky Way as viewed from Earth, many stars
appear behind it. In early May 2028, Alpha Centauri A will pass between the Earth and a distant red star, when
there is a 45% probability that an Einstein ring will be observed. Other conjunctions will also occur in the coming
decades, allowing accurate measurement of proper motions and possibly giving information on planets.[62]
Predicted future changes
Based on the system's common

proper motion and radial
velocities, Alpha Centauri will
continue to change its position in
the sky significantly and will
gradually brighten. For example,
in about 6,200 AD, α Centauri's
true motion will cause an
extremely rare first-magnitude
Distances of the nearest stars from stellar conjunction with Beta
20,000 years ago until 80,000 years Centauri, forming a brilliant
in the future optical double star in the southern Animation showing motion of Alpha
sky.[64] It will then pass just north Centauri through the sky. (The other
of the Southern Cross or Crux, stars are held fixed for didactic
before moving northwest and up towards the present celestial equator and reasons) "Oggi" means today; "anni"
away from the galactic plane. By about 26,700 AD, in the present-day means years.
constellation of Hydra, Alpha Centauri will reach perihelion at 0.90 pc or
2.9 ly away,[65] though later calculations suggest that this will occur in 27,000 AD.[66] At nearest approach,
Alpha Centauri will attain a maximum apparent magnitude of −0.86, comparable to present-day magnitude of
Canopus, but it will still not surpass that of Sirius, which will brighten incrementally over the next 60,000 years,
and will continue to be the brightest star as seen from Earth (other than the Sun) for the next 210,000 years.[67]
Stellar system
Alpha Centauri is a triple star system, with its two main stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, together
comprising a binary component. The AB designation, or older A×B, denotes the mass centre of a main binary
system relative to companion star(s) in a multiple star system.[68] AB-C refers to the component of Proxima
Centauri in relation to the central binary, being the distance between the centre of mass and the outlying
companion. Because the distance between Proxima (C) and either of Alpha Centauri A or B is similar, the AB
binary system is sometimes treated as a single gravitational object.[69]
Orbital properties
The A and B components of Alpha Centauri have an orbital period of

79.762 years.[5] Their orbit is moderately eccentric, as it has an
eccentricity of almost 0.52;[5] their closest approach or periastron is
11.2 AU (1.68 ×109 km), or about the distance between the Sun and
Saturn; and their furthest separation or apastron is 35.6 AU
(5.33 ×109 km), about the distance between the Sun and Pluto.[15] The
most recent periastron was in August 1955 and the next will occur in
May 2035; the most recent apastron was in May 1995 and will next
occur in 2075.
Viewed from Earth, the apparent orbit of A and B means that their
Apparent and true orbits of Alpha separation and position angle (PA) are in continuous change throughout
Centauri. The A component is held their projected orbit. Observed stellar positions in 2019 are separated by
stationary, and the relative orbital 4.92 arcsec through the PA of 337.1°, increasing to 5.49 arcsec through
motion of the B component is shown. 345.3° in 2020.[15] The closest recent approach was in February 2016, at
The apparent orbit (thin ellipse) is the 4.0 arcsec through the PA of 300°.[15][71] The observed maximum
shape of the orbit as seen by an separation of these stars is about 22 arcsec, while the minimum distance
observer on Earth. The true orbit is is 1.7 arcsec.[52] The widest separation occurred during February 1976,
the shape of the orbit viewed and the next will be in January 2056.[15]
perpendicular to the plane of the
orbital motion. According to the radial Alpha Centauri C is about 13,000 AU (0.21 ly; 1.9 ×1012 km) from
velocity versus time,[70] the radial Alpha Centauri AB, equivalent to about 5% of the distance between
separation of A and B along the line Alpha Centauri AB and the Sun.[16][39][51] Until 2017, measurements of
of sight had reached a maximum in its small speed and its trajectory were of too little accuracy and duration
2007, with B being further from Earth in years to determine whether it is bound to Alpha Centauri AB or
than A. The orbit is divided here into unrelated.
80 points: each step refers to a
timestep of approx. 0.99888 years or Radial velocity measurements made in 2017 were precise enough to
364.84 days. show that Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri AB are gravitationally
bound.[16] The orbital period of Proxima Centauri is approximately
+41 000
511 000 −30 000 years, with an eccentricity of 0.5, much more eccentric than Mercury's. Proxima Centauri comes
+700 +200
within 4100 −600 AU of AB at periastron, and its apastron occurs at 12 300 −100 AU.[5]
Physical properties
Asteroseismic studies, chromospheric activity, and stellar rotation

(gyrochronology) are all consistent with the Alpha Centauri system being
similar in age to, or slightly older than, the Sun.[72] Asteroseismic
analyses that incorporate tight observational constraints on the stellar
The relative sizes and colours of parameters for the Alpha Centauri stars have yielded age estimates of
stars in the Alpha Centauri system, 4.85 ± 0.5 Gyr,[73] 5.0 ± 0.5 Gyr,[74] 5.2 ± 1.9 Gyr,[75] 6.4 Gyr,[76] and
compared to the Sun 6.52 ± 0.3 Gyr.[77] Age estimates for the stars based on chromospheric
activity (Calcium H & K emission) yield 4.4 ± 2.1 Gyr, whereas
gyrochronology yields 5.0 ± 0.3 Gyr.[72] Stellar evolution theory implies
both stars are slightly older than the Sun at 5 to 6 billion years, as derived by their mass and spectral
characteristics.[39][78]
From the orbital elements, the total mass of Alpha Centauri AB is about 2.0 M☉ [note 4] – or twice that of the
Sun.[52] The average individual stellar masses are about 1.08 M☉ and 0.91 M☉ , respectively,[5] though slightly
different masses have also been quoted in recent years, such as 1.14 M☉ and 0.92 M☉ ,[79] totalling 2.06 M☉ .
Alpha Centauri A and B have absolute magnitudes of +4.38 and +5.71, respectively.
Alpha Centauri AB System
Alpha Centauri A
Alpha Centauri A, also known as Rigil Kentaurus, is the principal member, or primary, of the binary system. It is
a solar-like main-sequence star with a similar yellowish colour,[80] whose stellar classification is spectral type G2-
V;[3] it is about 10% more massive than the Sun,[73] with a radius about 22% larger.[81] When considered among
the individual brightest stars in the night sky, it is the fourth-brightest at an apparent magnitude of +0.01,[2] being
slightly fainter than Arcturus at an apparent magnitude of −0.05.
The type of magnetic activity on Alpha Centauri A is comparable to that of the Sun, showing coronal variability
due to star spots, as modulated by the rotation of the star. However, since 2005 the activity level has fallen into a
deep minimum that might be similar to the Sun's historical Maunder Minimum. Alternatively, it may have a very
long stellar activity cycle and is slowly recovering from a minimum phase.[82]
Alpha Centauri B
Alpha Centauri B, also known as Toliman, is the secondary star of the binary system. It is a main-sequence star
of spectral type K1-V, making it more an orange colour than Alpha Centauri A;[80] it has around 90% of the mass
of the Sun and a 14% smaller diameter. Although it has a lower luminosity than A, Alpha Centauri B emits more
energy in the X-ray band.[83] Its light curve varies on a short time scale, and there has been at least one observed
flare.[83] It is more magnetically active than Alpha Centauri A, showing a cycle of 8.2 ± 0.2 yr compared to 11
years for the Sun, and has about half the minimum-to-peak variation in coronal luminosity of the Sun.[82] Alpha
Centauri B has an apparent magnitude of +1.35, slightly dimmer than Mimosa.[31]
Alpha Centauri C (Proxima Centauri)

Alpha Centauri C, better known as Proxima Centauri, is a small main-sequence red dwarf of spectral class M6-
Ve. It has an absolute magnitude of +15.60, over 20,000 times fainter than the Sun. Its mass is calculated to be
0.1221 M☉ .[84] It is the closest star to the Sun but is too faint to be visible to the naked eye.[85]
Relative positions of Sun, Alpha Centauri AB and Proxima Centauri. Grey dot is projection of Proxima Centauri, located at t
Planetary system
The Alpha Centauri system as a whole has two confirmed planets, both of them around Proxima Centauri. While
other planets have been claimed to exist around all of the stars, none of the discoveries have been confirmed.
Planets of Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri b is a terrestrial planet discovered in 2016 by astronomers at the European Southern
Observatory (ESO). It has an estimated minimum mass of 1.17 MEarth (Earth masses) and orbits approximately
0.049 AU from Proxima Centauri, placing it in the star's habitable zone.[86][87]
Proxima Centauri c is a planet that was formally published in 2020 and could be a super-Earth or mini-
Neptune.[88][89] It has a mass of roughly 7 MEarth and orbits about 1.49 AU from Proxima Centauri with a period
of 1,928 days (5.28 yr).[90] In June 2020, a possible direct imaging detection of the planet hinted at the potential
presence of a large ring system.[91] However, a 2022 study disputed the existence of this planet.[18]
A 2020 paper refining Proxima b's mass excludes the presence of extra companions with masses above
0.6 MEarth at periods shorter than 50 days, but the authors detected a radial-velocity curve with a periodicity of
5.15 days, suggesting the presence of a planet with a mass of about 0.29 MEarth .[87] This planet, Proxima
Centauri d, was confirmed in 2022.[17][18]
Planets of Alpha Centauri A
The discovery image of Alpha

Centauri's candidate Neptunian
planet, marked here as "C1"
The Alpha Centauri A planetary system

Companion Semimajor axis Orbital period
Mass Eccentricity Inclination Radius
(in order from star) (AU) (days)
b (unconfirmed) ~9–35[note 5] M⊕ 1.1 ~360 — ~65 ± 25° ~3.3–7 R⊕

In 2021, a candidate planet named Candidate 1 (abbreviated as C1) was detected around Alpha Centauri A,
thought to orbit at approximately 1.1 AU with a period of about one year, and to have a mass between that of
Neptune and one-half that of Saturn, though it may be a dust disk or an artifact. The possibility of C1 being a
background star has been ruled out.[92][19] If this candidate is confirmed, the temporary name C1 will most likely
be replaced with the scientific designation Alpha Centauri Ab in accordance with current naming conventions.[93]
GO Cycle 1 observations are planned for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to search for planets around
Alpha Centauri A.[94] The observations are planned to occur at a date between July and August 2023.[95] Pre-
launch estimates predicted that JWST will be able to find planets with a radius of 5 R🜨 at 1–3 au. Multiple
observations every 3–6 months could push the limit down to 3 R🜨.[96] Post-processing techniques could push the
limit down to 0.5 to 0.7 R🜨.[94] Post-launch estimates based on observations of HIP 65426 b find that JWST will
be able to find planets even closer to Alpha Centauri A and could find a 5 R🜨 planet at 0.5 to 2.5 au.[97]
Candidate 1 has an estimated radius between 3.3 and 11 R🜨[19] and orbits at 1.1 au. It is therefore likely within
the reach of JWST observations.
Planets of Alpha Centauri B
In 2012, a planet around Alpha Centauri B was reported, Alpha Centauri Bb, but in 2015 a new analysis
concluded that that report was an artifact of the datum analysis.[98][99][20]
A possible transit-like event was observed in 2013, which could be associated with a separate planet. The transit
event could correspond to a planetary body with a radius around 0.92 R🜨. This planet would most likely orbit
Alpha Centauri B with an orbital period of 20.4 days or less, with only a 5% chance of it having a longer orbit.
The median of the likely orbits is 12.4 days. Its orbit would likely have an eccentricity of 0.24 or less.[100] It
could have lakes of molten lava and would be far too close to Alpha Centauri B to harbour life.[101] If confirmed,
this planet might be called Alpha Centauri Bc. However, the name has not been used in the literature, as it is not a
claimed discovery. As of 2023, it appears that no further transit-like events have been observed.
Hypothetical planets
Additional planets may exist in the Alpha Centauri system, either orbiting Alpha Centauri A or Alpha Centauri B
individually, or in large orbits around Alpha Centauri AB. Because both stars are fairly similar to the Sun (for
example, in age and metallicity), astronomers have been especially interested in making detailed searches for
planets in the Alpha Centauri system. Several established planet-hunting teams have used various radial velocity
or star transit methods in their searches around these two bright stars.[102] All the observational studies have so
far failed to find evidence for brown dwarfs or gas giants.[102][103]
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. Certain special assumptions, such
as considering that the Alpha Centauri pair may have initially formed with a wider separation and later moved
closer to each other (as might be possible if they formed in a dense star cluster), would permit an accretion-
friendly environment farther from the star.[104] Bodies around Alpha Centauri A would be able to orbit at slightly
farther distances due to its stronger gravity. 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.[105] A theoretical study
indicates that a radial velocity analysis might detect a hypothetical planet of 1.8 MEarth in Alpha Centauri B's
habitable zone.[106]
Radial velocity measurements of Alpha Centauri B made with the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet
Searcher spectrograph were sufficiently sensitive to detect a 4 MEarth planet within the habitable zone of the star
(i.e. with an orbital period P = 200 days), but no planets were detected.[107]
Current estimates place the probability of finding an Earth-like planet around Alpha Centauri at roughly
75%.[108] The observational thresholds for planet detection in the habitable zones by the radial velocity method
are currently (2017) estimated to be about 50 MEarth for Alpha Centauri A, 8 MEarth for Alpha Centauri B, and
0.5 MEarth for Proxima Centauri.[109]
Early computer-generated models of planetary formation predicted the existence of terrestrial planets around both
Alpha Centauri A and B,[106][note 6] but most recent numerical investigations have shown that the gravitational
pull of the companion star renders the accretion of planets difficult.[104][110] 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.[6][105][111][112]
In the Solar System, it was once thought that Jupiter and Saturn were probably crucial in perturbing comets into
the inner Solar System, providing the inner planets with a source of water and various other ices.[113] However,
since isotope measurements of the deuterium to hydrogen (D/H) ratio in comets Halley, Hyakutake, Hale–Bopp,
2002T7, and Tuttle yield values approximately twice that of Earth's oceanic water, more recent models and
research predict that less than 10% of Earth's water was supplied from comets. In the Alpha Centauri system,
Proxima Centauri may have influenced the planetary disk as the Alpha Centauri system was forming, enriching
the area around Alpha Centauri with volatile materials.[114] This would be discounted if, for example, Alpha
Centauri B happened to have gas giants orbiting Alpha Centauri A (or vice versa), or if Alpha Centauri A and B
themselves were able to perturb comets into each other's inner systems as Jupiter and Saturn presumably have
done in the Solar System.[113] Such icy bodies probably also reside in Oort clouds of other planetary systems.
When they are influenced gravitationally by either the gas giants or disruptions by passing nearby stars, many of
these icy bodies then travel star-wards.[113] Such ideas also apply to the close approach of Alpha Centauri or
other stars to the Solar System, when, in the distant future, the Oort Cloud might be disrupted enough to increase
the number of active comets.[65]
To be in the habitable zone, a planet around Alpha Centauri A would have an orbital radius of between about 1.2
and 2.1 AU so as to have similar planetary temperatures and conditions for liquid water to exist.[115] For the
slightly less luminous and cooler Alpha Centauri B, the habitable zone is between about 0.7 and 1.2 AU.[115]
With the goal of finding evidence of such planets, both Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri-AB were among
the listed "Tier-1" target stars for NASA's Space Interferometry Mission (S.I.M.). Detecting planets as small as
three Earth-masses or smaller within two AU of a "Tier-1" target would have been possible with this new
instrument.[116] The S.I.M. mission, however, was cancelled due to financial issues in 2010.[117]
Circumstellar discs
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.[118] The total mass was estimated to be between 10−7 to 10−6 the mass of the Moon,
or 10–100 times the mass of the Solar System's zodiacal cloud.[118] If such a disc existed around both stars,
α Centauri A's disc would likely be stable to 2.8 AU, and α Centauri B's would likely be stable to 2.5 AU[118]
This would put A's disc entirely within the frost line, and a small part of B's outer disc just outside.[118]
View from this system

The sky from Alpha Centauri AB would appear much as it does from the Earth, except that Centaurus would be
missing its brightest star. The Sun would appear as a white star of apparent magnitude +0.5,[119] roughly the
same as the average brightness of Betelgeuse from Earth. It would be at the antipodal point of Alpha Centauri
AB's current right ascension and declination, at 02h 39m 36s +60° 50′ 02.308″ (2000), in eastern Cassiopeia,
easily outshining all the rest of the stars in the constellation. With the
placement of the Sun east of the magnitude 3.4 star Epsilon Cassiopeiae,
nearly in front of the Heart Nebula, the "W" line of stars of Cassiopeia
would have a "/W" shape.[120]
The Winter Triangle would not look equilateral, but very thin and long,
with Procyon outshining Pollux in the middle of Gemini, and Sirius lying
less than a degree from Betelgeuse in Orion. With a magnitude of −1.2,
Sirius would be a little fainter than from Earth but still the brightest star in
the night sky. Both Vega and Altair would be shifted northwestward Looking towards the sky around
relative to Deneb, giving the Summer Triangle a more equilateral Orion from Alpha Centauri with Sirius
appearance. near Betelgeuse, Procyon in Gemini,
and the Sun in Cassiopeia generated
A planet around either α Centauri A or B would see the other star as a by Celestia.
very bright secondary. For example, an Earth-like planet at 1.25 AU from
α Cen A (with a revolution period of 1.34 years) would get Sun-like
illumination from its primary, and α Cen B would appear 5.7 to 8.6
magnitudes dimmer (−21.0 to −18.2), 190 to 2,700 times dimmer than α
Cen A but still 150 to 2,100 times brighter than the full Moon.
Conversely, an Earth-like planet at 0.71 AU from α Cen B (with a
revolution period of 0.63 years) would get nearly Sun-like illumination
from its primary, and α Cen A would appear 4.6 to 7.3 magnitudes
dimmer (−22.1 to −19.4), 70 to 840 times dimmer than α Cen B but still
470 to 5,700 times brighter than the full Moon. Simulated night-sky image with a
"W" of stars from Cassiopeia
Proxima Centauri would appear dim as one of many stars.[121] connected by lines, and the Sun,
labeled "Sol", as it would appear to
Other names the left of the "W"
In modern literature, colloquial alternative names of Alpha Centauri include Rigil Kent[122] (also Rigel Kent and
variants;[note 7] /ˈraɪdʒəl ˈkɛnt/)[21][123] and Toliman[124] (the latter of which became the proper name of Alpha
Centauri B on 10 August 2018 by approval of the International Astronomical Union).
Rigil Kent is short for Rigil Kentaurus,[125] which is sometimes further abbreviated to Rigil or Rigel, though that
is ambiguous with Beta Orionis, which is also called Rigel.
The name Toliman originates with Jacobus Golius' 1669 edition of Al-Farghani's Compendium. Tolimân is
Golius' latinisation of the Arabic name ‫ الظلمان‬al-Ẓulmān "the ostriches", the name of an asterism of which
Alpha Centauri formed the main star.[126][127][128]
During the 19th century, the northern amateur popularist Elijah H. Burritt used the now-obscure name
Bungula,[129] possibly coined from "β" and the Latin ungula ("hoof").[21]
Together, Alpha and Beta Centauri form the "Southern Pointers" or "The Pointers", as they point towards the
Southern Cross, the asterism of the constellation of Crux.[64]
In Chinese astronomy, 南門 Nán Mén, meaning Southern Gate, refers to an asterism consisting of
Alpha Centauri and Epsilon Centauri. Consequently, the Chinese name for Alpha Centauri itself is
[130]
Nán 南門二
Mén Èr, the Second Star of the Southern Gate.
To the Australian aboriginal Boorong people of northwestern Victoria, Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri are
Bermbermgle,[131] two brothers noted for their courage and destructiveness, who speared and killed Tchingal
"The Emu" (the Coalsack Nebula).[132] The form in Wotjobaluk is Bram-bram-bult.[131]
Future exploration
Alpha Centauri is a first target for crewed or robotic interstellar
exploration. Using current spacecraft technologies, crossing the distance
between the Sun and Alpha Centauri would take several millennia,
though the possibility of nuclear pulse propulsion or laser light sail
technology, as considered in the Breakthrough Starshot program, could
make the journey to Alpha Centauri in 20 years.[133][134][135] An
objective of such a mission would be to make a fly-by of, and possibly
photograph, planets that might exist in the system.[136][137] The existence
of Proxima Centauri b, announced by the European Southern The Very Large Telescope and Alpha
Observatory (ESO) in August 2016, would be a target for the Starshot Centauri
program.[136][138]
NASA announced in 2017 that it plans to send a spacecraft to Alpha Centauri in 2069, scheduled to coincide
with the 100th anniversary of the first crewed lunar landing in 1969, Apollo 11. Even at speed 10% of the speed
of light (about 108 million km/h), which NASA experts say may be possible, it would take a spacecraft 44 years
to reach the constellation, by the year 2113, and will take another 4 years for a signal, by the year 2117 to reach
Earth.[139][140]
Historical distance estimates
A radar map of all stellar objects or stellar systems

within 9 light years (ly) from its center the Sun
(Sol). Just next to Alpha Centauri is Proxima
Centauri marked, but unlabled. The diamond-
shapes are their positions entered according to
right ascension in hours angle (indicated at the
edge of the map's reference disc), and according
to their declination. The second mark shows
each's distance from Sol, with the concentric
circles indicating the distance in steps of one ly.
Alpha Centauri AB historical distance estimates

Distance
Source Year Subject Parallax (mas) References
parsecs light-years petametres
H. +0.09 +2.8 [57]
1839 AB 1160 ± 110 0.86 −0.07 2.81 ± 0.53 26.6 −2.3
Henderson
T. +2.5 [141]
1842 AB 912.8 ± 64 1.10 ± 0.15 3.57 ± 0.5 33.8 −2.2
Henderson
+0.14 [142]
Maclear 1851 AB 918.7 ± 34 1.09 ± 0.04 3.55 −0.13 32.4 ± 2.5
+0.10 +0.31 +2.9 [143]

Moesta 1868 AB 880 ± 68 1.14 −0.08 3.71 −0.27 35.1 −2.5
+0.6 [144]
Gill & Elkin 1885 AB 750 ± 10 1.333 ± 0.018 4.35 ± 0.06 41.1 −0.5
+3.3 [145]
Roberts 1895 AB 710 ± 50 1.32 ± 0.2 4.29 ± 0.65 43.5 −2.9
Woolley et [146]
1970 AB 743 ± 7 1.346 ± 0.013 4.39 ± 0.04 41.5 ± 0.4
al.
Gliese & [147]
1991 AB 749.0 ± 4.7 1.335 ± 0.008 4.355 ± 0.027 41.20 ± 0.26
Jahreiß
van Altena +0.032 +0.30 [148]
1995 AB 749.9 ± 5.4 1.334 ± 0.010 4.349 −0.031 41.15 −0.29
et al.
Perryman [149][150][151][152]
1997 AB 742.12 ± 1.40 1.3475 ± 0.0025 4.395 ± 0.008 41.58 ± 0.08
et al.
+0.0022 [153]
Söderhjelm 1999 AB 747.1 ± 1.2 1.3385 −0.0021 4.366 ± 0.007 41.30 ± 0.07
+0.024 [154]
A 754.81 ± 4.11 1.325 ± 0.007 4.321 −0.023 40.88 ± 0.22
van
2007
Leeuwen +0.14 [155]
B 796.92 ± 25.90 1.25 ± 0.04 4.09 −0.13 37.5 ± 2.5
RECONS
TOP100
2012 AB 747.23 ± 1.17[note 8] 1.3383 ± 0.0021 4.365 ± 0.007 41.29 ± 0.06 [79]
See also
Alpha Centauri in fiction
List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs
Project Longshot
Sagan Planet Walk
Notes
1. Proxima Centauri is gravitationally bound to the α Centauri system, but for practical and historical
reasons it is described in detail in its own article.
2. This is calculated for a fixed latitude by knowing the star's declination (δ) using the formulae (90°+
δ). Alpha Centauri's declination is −60° 50′, so the observed latitude where the star is circumpolar
will be south of −29° 10′ South or 29°. Similarly, the place where Alpha Centauri never rises for
northern observers is north of the latitude (90°+ δ) N or +29° North.
3. Proper motions are expressed in smaller angular units than arcsec, being measured in milliarcsec
(mas.) (thousandths of an arcsec). Negative values for proper motion in RA indicate the sky
motion is from east to west, and in declination north to south.
4. , see formula
5. These mass limits are calculated from the observed radius of ~3.3–7 R🜨 applied to the equation
quoted, and presumably used, to calculate the planet mass from the planet radius in the K.
Wagner et al. 2021 paper – R ∝ M0.55 (although this radius-mass relationship is for low-mass
planets and not for larger gas giants). Therefore 3.31.82 = 8.77 MEarth and 71.82 = 34.52 MEarth.
The Msini ≥ 53 MEarth is for a planet at the outer edge of the conservative habitable zone, 2.1 AU,
and so the upper mass limit is lower than that for the C1 planet at just 1.1 AU.
6. See Lissauer and Quintana in references below
7. Spellings include Rigjl Kentaurus, Hyde T., "Ulugh Beighi Tabulae Stellarum Fixarum", Tabulae
Long. ac Lat. Stellarum Fixarum ex Observatione Ulugh Beighi Oxford, 1665, p. 142, Hyde T., "In
Ulugh Beighi Tabulae Stellarum Fixarum Commentarii", op. cit., p. 67, Portuguese Riguel
Kentaurus da Silva Oliveira, R., "Crux Australis: o Cruzeiro do Sul" (http://www.asterdomus.com.b
r/Artigo_crux_australis.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131206102730/http://www.a
sterdomus.com.br/Artigo_crux_australis.htm) 6 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Artigos:
Planetario Movel Inflavel AsterDomus.
8. Weighted parallax based on parallaxes from van Altena et al. (1995) and Söderhjelm (1999)
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External links
SIMBAD observational data (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/sim-id.pl?protocol=html&Ident=alpha+cent
auri)
Sixth Catalogue of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars U.S.N.O. (https://web.archive.org/web/200904120
84731/http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/orb6.html)
The Imperial Star – Alpha Centauri (http://www.southastrodel.com/PageAlphaCen001.htm)
Alpha Centauri – A Voyage to Alpha Centauri (http://www.southastrodel.com/PageAlphaCen006.h
tm)
Immediate History of Alpha Centauri (http://www.southastrodel.com/PageAlphaCen006.htm)
eSky: Alpha Centauri (http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/alphacentauri.html)
Hypothetical planets or exploration

Alpha Centauri System (http://jumk.de/astronomie/near-stars/alpha-centauri.shtml)
O Sistema Alpha Centauri (Portuguese) (http://www.uranometrianova.pro.br/astronomia/AA002/al
phacen.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190444/http://www.uranometrianov
a.pro.br/astronomia/AA002/alphacen.htm) 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
Alpha Centauri – Associação de Astronomia (Portuguese) (http://www.alpha-centauri.pt/)
Thompson, Andrea (7 March 2008). "Nearest Star System Might Harbor Earth Twin" (https://web.a
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Alpha Centauri

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Alpha Centauri

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Alpha Centauri

Coordinates: 14h 39m 36.4951s, −60° 50′ 02.308″

Alpha Centauri (α Centauri, Alpha Cen, or α Cen)

Alpha Centauri A and B are Sun-like stars (Class G

α Centauri (Latinised to Alpha Centauri) is the Absolute magnitude (MV) 4.38[6]

As seen from Earth, Proxima Centauri is 2.2° nistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?

Now, therefore, there are but three Stars of the first

The binary nature of Alpha Centauri AB was recognized in December

The large proper motion of Alpha Centauri AB was discovered by

Later, John Herschel made the first micrometrical observations in

By 1926, William Stephen Finsen calculated the approximate orbit

All components of Alpha Centauri display significant proper motion

In the 1830s, Thomas Henderson discovered the true distance to Alpha

Predicted future changes

Based on the system's common

The A and B components of Alpha Centauri have an orbital period of

Asteroseismic studies, chromospheric activity, and stellar rotation

Alpha Centauri AB System

Alpha Centauri C (Proxima Centauri)

Planets of Proxima Centauri

Planets of Alpha Centauri A

The discovery image of Alpha

The Alpha Centauri A planetary system

b (unconfirmed) ~9–35[note 5] M⊕ 1.1 ~360 — ~65 ± 25° ~3.3–7 R⊕

Planets of Alpha Centauri B

View from this system

Other names the left of the "W"

Historical distance estimates

A radar map of all stellar objects or stellar systems

Alpha Centauri AB historical distance estimates

+0.10 +0.31 +2.9 [143]

Hypothetical planets or exploration

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