Alpha Centauri
(Left-Right: Sol, a Cen A, a Cen B, Proxima Centauri)
Alpha Centauri is either a binary or trinary star system that we see in the right front hoof of the constellation Centaurus. Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B are the biggest components of Alpha Centauri, while Proxima Centauri could be gravitationally connected to the Alpha Centauri binary system, making it a trinary star system. We do not know whether or not it is. It is also the third brightest star we can see with the naked eye in the night sky. It is 4.37 light years away.
Alpha Centauri A is the stellar type as that of Sol, more commonly known as “the Sun”. This means that its color is near that of Sol. a Cen A, as it is abbreviated, is 9962°F in temperature, 530,616 miles in radius, 1.1 times as large as Sol, and is yellow in color. It also takes approximately twenty two days for it to rotate once, and is the primary, or greater, member of the Alpha Centauri system.
Alpha Centauri B is a different stellar type than Sol and a Cen A. a Cen B is the secondary companion of the binary system. It is 9080°F, has a 392,232 miles radius, .9 times as large as Sol, and is orangish. It rotates once every forty-seven days.
Proxima Centauri, as I mentioned before, could or could not be part of the Alpha Centauri system. It is the closest known star to Sol, and it’s name literally translates into next to centaurs, which is actually pretty accurate. It goes under dramatic changes in color and temperature, since it is a flare star. It varies from 4,805°F to 5,226°F in temperature, and is around 60,975 miles in radius, .14 times the size of the sun. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf.
Alpha Centauri A is the stellar type as that of Sol, more commonly known as “the Sun”. This means that its color is near that of Sol. a Cen A, as it is abbreviated, is 9962°F in temperature, 530,616 miles in radius, 1.1 times as large as Sol, and is yellow in color. It also takes approximately twenty two days for it to rotate once, and is the primary, or greater, member of the Alpha Centauri system.
Alpha Centauri B is a different stellar type than Sol and a Cen A. a Cen B is the secondary companion of the binary system. It is 9080°F, has a 392,232 miles radius, .9 times as large as Sol, and is orangish. It rotates once every forty-seven days.
Proxima Centauri, as I mentioned before, could or could not be part of the Alpha Centauri system. It is the closest known star to Sol, and it’s name literally translates into next to centaurs, which is actually pretty accurate. It goes under dramatic changes in color and temperature, since it is a flare star. It varies from 4,805°F to 5,226°F in temperature, and is around 60,975 miles in radius, .14 times the size of the sun. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf.
References
"Proxima Centauri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." 2003. 1 Feb. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxima_Centauri>
"Alpha Centauri: Closest star system to our sun | Brightest Stars ..." 2010. 29 Jan. 2013 <http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/alpha-centauri-is-the-nearest-bright-star>
"Alpha Centauri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." 2003. 29 Jan. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri>
"Alpha Centauri: Closest star system to our sun | Brightest Stars ..." 2010. 29 Jan. 2013 <http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/alpha-centauri-is-the-nearest-bright-star>
"Alpha Centauri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." 2003. 29 Jan. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri>