Alpha Centauri

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Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Sun, located approximately 4.2 to 4.4 light-years away. It consists of three stars: Alpha Centauri A (Rigil Kentaurus), Alpha Centauri B (Toliman), and Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A and B form a binary system, with A being a sun-like star and B an orange main sequence star. Proxima Centauri, the faintest component, is a red dwarf and the closest individual star to the Sun. Alpha Centauri is visible in the southern hemisphere, where it appears as the third brightest star in the night sky. The system is part of the constellation Centaurus. Proxima Centauri hosts three known exoplanets, including Proxima b, which orbits within its habitable zone. The entire system is gravitationally bound, with Proxima Centauri orbiting the main pair over a period of about 550,000 years. Alpha Centauri's proximity and unique composition make it a significant object of study in astronomy.