Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: kdlynn on 19/09/2007 01:48:26

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: kdlynn on 19/09/2007 01:48:26

the sun is a star, right? so it's the closest... but how far away is the next closest star? has anyone figured out where it is yet?

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: moonfire on 19/09/2007 04:25:43

YOU! hehe

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: kdlynn on 19/09/2007 04:27:40

aw thanks

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: moonfire on 19/09/2007 04:47:03

You are welcome! It is true!  I wikepedia'ed and you came up! hehe J/K But I think so anyways!

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/09/2007 07:50:10

Proxima Centauri - 4 & a bit light years.

Here's a list of stars closest to us...

http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/nearest.html (http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/nearest.html)

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: syhprum on 19/09/2007 22:29:12

Proxima Centauri being one of a triple system I presume it rotates about the the other larger pair.
What is the plane of its rotation, are there times when it is not the closest to us?

Title: how close is the closest star...other than the sun?
Post by: neilep on 19/09/2007 22:42:49

Quote from: syhprum on 19/09/2007 22:29:12

Proxima Centauri being one of a triple system I presume it rotates about the the other larger pair.
What is the plane of its rotation, are there times when it is not the closest to us?

Funny you should mention triple star systems !!
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=9802.0