The nearest star to Earth - is Proxima Centauri

Since ancient times, man turns his eyes to the sky, where he saw a thousand stars.They fascinated him, and thought-provoking.With centuries of accumulated knowledge about them and systematized.And when it became clear that the stars - it's not just points of light, and the real space objects enormous size, a man had a dream - to fly them.But first it was necessary to determine how far away they are.

The nearest star to Earth

With telescopes and mathematical formulas, scientists were able to calculate the distance to the present (excluding the objects of the solar system) space neighbors.So, what is the closest star to Earth?She was a small Proxima Centauri.It is part of a triple system, located approximately just over four light-years from the solar system (it is worth noting that astronomers often use another unit of measurement - parsecs).Her and called proxima, which in Latin means "immediate."For the universe is the distance seem insignificant, but at the current level of space ship to reach it will require more than one generation of people.

Proxima Centauri

a star in the sky that can be seen only through a telescope.It is weaker than the sun shines about one hundred and fifty times.In size, it is also significantly inferior to the latter, and the temperature of the surface of the half.Astronomers believe that a brown dwarf star, and the existence of planets around it is hardly possible.So go there and does not make sense.Although Alpha Centauri triple system is in itself worthy of attention - in the universe such facilities are not very common.Stars in their turning around each other on a bizarre orbit, and it happens that and "devour" neighbor.

Deep space

say a few words about the most remote of the detected object at the moment in the universe.From the visible without the use of special optical devices - is, without a doubt, the Andromeda galaxy.Its brightness corresponds to about a quarter size.And the closest star to Earth this galaxy is from us, according to the calculations of astronomers, at a distance of two million light years away.Amazing value is!After all, we see it for what it was two million years ago - that's how easy it is to look into the past!But back to our "neighbors".The nearest galaxy to us - it is a dwarf, which can be observed in the constellation of Sagittarius.It is so far from us that the Milky Way it practically absorbs!However, fly to it still have eighty thousand light-years.These are the distances in space!About Magellanic Cloud and say no.This satellite of the Milky Way behind us nearly 170 million light-years.

The nearest star to Earth

relatively close to the sun is fifty-one star system.But we will list only eight.So, get acquainted:

1. already mentioned Proxima Centauri.Distance - four light-years, a class of M5,5 (red or brown dwarf).
2. stars Alpha Centauri A and B. They are removed from us at 4.3 light-years.Objects of class D2 and K1 respectively.Alpha Centauri - and even the nearest star to Earth at a temperature similar to our sun.
3. Barnard's Star - also called "Flying", because it moves with a large (compared to other space objects) speed.Located at a distance of 6 light-years from the sun.Object Class M3,8.On the palate, it can be found in the constellation Ophiuchus.
4. Wolf 359 - is located 7.7 light years from us.The object of the 16th magnitude in the constellation Draco.Class M5,8.
5. Lalande 1185 - removed from our system is 8.2 light-years.Located in the constellation Ursa Major.Object Class M2,1.Magnitude - 10.
6. Tau Ceti - located at a distance of 8.4 light-years away.Star Class M5,6.
7. system of Sirius A and B - removed in eight and a half light years.Star Class A1 and DA.
8. Ross 154 in the constellation Sagittarius.Located at a distance of 9.4 light-years away.Star Class M 3.6.

mention here only space objects within a radius of ten light-years away.

Sun

However, looking at the sky, we forget that the closest star to Earth - it's still the sun.It is the center of our system.Without it, life on Earth would be impossible, and formed our planet with this star.And so it deserves special attention.A little bit about it.As all stars basically sun consists of hydrogen and helium.And the first is constantly transformed into a final.As a result of thermonuclear reactions and heavier elements.And the star is older, the more they accumulate.

by age is the closest star to the Earth no longer young, she was about five billion years.The mass of the Sun is ~ 2.1033 g, diameter - 1.392 million kilometers.The temperature at the surface reaches 6000 K. In the middle of the star it rises.The atmosphere of the Sun consists of three parts: the crown, the chromosphere and photosphere.

Solar activity significantly affects the life of the Earth.It is argued that it is essential for climate, weather and the state of the biosphere.We know about the eleven-year periodicity of the solar activity.