ALPHA CENTAURIRenee Felker

ITS NAME:

Alpha Centauri Was often called Rigel Kentaurus.

Rigel Kentaurus means “foot of the centaur” in Arabic.

FAMOUS FOR:

It’s the 3rd brightest star in the sky. And a member of the triple star

system.

ITS MAGNITUDE:

Apparent Visual Magnitude=-0.3 Absolute Visible Magnitude Mv.=4.4

BEST TIME TO VIEW:

Never viewed from northern latitudes(around 40 degrees)

Traveling south below the earths surface, across the equator you will see it.

FACTS:

This star is a part of the constellation Centaurus.

Also the closest star system to the sun. Same type of star as the sun and believed to

harbor life.

Terrestrial Life Conditions:

Questions for Any Star

Sun AlphaCentauri A

AlphaCentauri B Proxima

On the main sequence ? Yes Yes Yes Yes

Of the right spectral type ? Yes Yes Maybe No

Constant in brightness ? Yes Yes Yes No

Old enough ? Yes Yes Yes No?

Rich in metals ? Yes Yes Yes ?

Has stable planetary orbits ?

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Could planets form ? Yes ? ? Yes

Do planets actually exist ? Yes ? ? ?

Small rocky planets possible ?

Yes Yes Yes Yes?

Planets in the life zone ? Yes Maybe Maybe No

ABOUT STAR:

Type= yellow- orange main sequence star.

Size= About same size as the sun. 40% brighter than the sun. 4.3 light years away.

PICTURES:

http://homepage.swissonline.ch/osiris888/alphacent.swf

Sites:

http://aether.lbl.gov/www/classes/p139/speed/Alpha-Centauri.html

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=alpha+centauri+&FORM=BIFD

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960526.html

http://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/AllStarTop.html