Alpha Centauri


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Related to Alpha Centauri: Proxima Centauri, Andromeda galaxy

Alpha Centauri

(sen-tor -ÿ, -ee) (Rigil Kentaurus; α Cen) A binary star that is the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus, one of the brightest in the sky, and the second nearest star to the Sun. The two components, A and B, form a yellow-orange visual binary (separation 17″.7, period 80.1 years) and are similar in mass and size to the Sun. Proxima Centauri appears to be physically associated with α Cen; it is the nearest star to the Sun. mv : –0.01 (A), 1.33 (B), –0.27 (AB); Mv : 4.4 (A), 5.7 (B), 4.1 (AB); spectral type: G2 V (A), K1 V (B); mass: 1.09 (A), 0.89 (B) times solar mass; distance: 1.33 pc.
Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

Alpha Centauri

[¦al·fə sen′tȯ·rē]
(astronomy)
A double star, the brightest in the constellation Centaurus; apart from the sun, it is the nearest bright star to earth, about 4.3 light-years away; spectral classification G2. Also known as Rigil Kent.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Alpha Centauri

brightest star in Centaurus constellation; closest star to Earth. [Astronomy: NCE, 74]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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