
Alpha Centauri |
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Name : Alpha Centauri Designation : Alpha Centauri Constellation : Centaurus Apparent Magnitude : -0.3 Absolute Magnitude : 4.4 (A), 5.7 (B) Distance : 4.4 light years Luminosity x Sun : 1.7 (A), 0.4 (B) Frontier Coordinates : 0,0 | |
The star we see as Alpha Centauri is actually two stars designated A and B, which move around each other over a period of 80 years in an eccentric orbit - at their closest their separation is the same as Saturn from the Sun. The stars themselves are not unlike our own Sun but a third member of the system - Proxima Centauri - is a feeble dwarf star. Alpha and Beta Centauri are famous for pointing the way to the celebrated Southern Cross. |
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