Proxima Cen
Proxima Cen is a star with planets in the constellation Centaurus, about 4.2 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Star with planets |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Position (J2000) | 14h 29m 34s, −62° 40′ |
| Distance | 4.2 light-years (its light set off about 4.2 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 11.01 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
Planets
2 known| Planet | Size (Earth = 1) | Year (days) | Habitable zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proxima Cen d | 0.69 | 5.12 | no |
| Proxima Cen b | 1.02 | 11.18 | yes (conservative) |
When and how to see it
Proxima Cen is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 7° above the horizon; from 50° N it never rises. To see it you need a small telescope.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Centaurus
- Betta Fish Nebula
- Boomerang Nebula
- Centaurus A (NGC 5128)
- Mermaid Nebula
- Omega Centauri
- Running Chicken Nebula
- SN 1006
- Thackeray's Globules
Everything in Centaurus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: · NASA Exoplanet Archive · Data sources & credits