Posted on Jan 1, 2025
APOD: 2025 January 1 – Alpha Centauri: The Closest Star System
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Good morning, Rallypoint, and Happy New Year. Welcome to the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for January 1, 2025.
Alpha Centauri (actually a triple star system) is the fourth brightest star in the sky and is the closest to our home planet (roughly 4.3 light years). α Centauri A and B (a binary star) are both of similar mass to our Sun, while α Centauri C (also called Proxima Centauri) is a red dwarf star. Proxima Centauri is the closest to Earth (~4.2 light years).
If you visit today's APOD image, mouse over the photo to see where Proxima Centauri is located relative to α Centauri A and B. Open start cluster NGC 5617 is also indicated, as it is seen near to α Centauri A and B when viewed from Earth. If you'd like to see more, check out the Wikipedia page for Alpha Centauri.
Alpha Centauri (actually a triple star system) is the fourth brightest star in the sky and is the closest to our home planet (roughly 4.3 light years). α Centauri A and B (a binary star) are both of similar mass to our Sun, while α Centauri C (also called Proxima Centauri) is a red dwarf star. Proxima Centauri is the closest to Earth (~4.2 light years).
If you visit today's APOD image, mouse over the photo to see where Proxima Centauri is located relative to α Centauri A and B. Open start cluster NGC 5617 is also indicated, as it is seen near to α Centauri A and B when viewed from Earth. If you'd like to see more, check out the Wikipedia page for Alpha Centauri.
APOD: 2025 January 1 – Alpha Centauri: The Closest Star System
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
NASA
Space
Science
Photography
Astronomy
Posted 6 d ago
Responses: 5
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Just Out Of Curiosity Because I Hadn't A Clue,
I Checked Out Some Information On The Web,
And Here's Just Some Of What I Found Interesting
And Frigging AMAZING
"Alpha Centauri's 4.22 Light-Years Away From Us In The Milky Way.
It is also an interesting place because it is considered one of the relatively few locations
in the Milky Way that may offer conditions that are favorable to terrestrial life.
~~ Regardless Of What They've Discovered, I Ain't Moving There.~~
~
I Checked Out Some Information On The Web,
And Here's Just Some Of What I Found Interesting
And Frigging AMAZING
"Alpha Centauri's 4.22 Light-Years Away From Us In The Milky Way.
It is also an interesting place because it is considered one of the relatively few locations
in the Milky Way that may offer conditions that are favorable to terrestrial life.
~~ Regardless Of What They've Discovered, I Ain't Moving There.~~
~
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COL John McClellan
So, we have a spacecraft that got close to 500k mph. At that speed sustained, that puts Alpha-C more than 6,340 years from us...
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