ALPHA CENTAURIBy: Megan Devin

Fun Facts About Alpha Centauri Member of the triple star system

closest to our sun 3rd brightest star in the sky Apparent visual magnitude = -0.3 Proxima Centauri is the closest star

to the sun

Fun Facts (Contd.)

Alpha Centauri A & B are about as far away from each other as the sun is to Pluto.

They are 4.37 light years away from the Sun.

The star could possibly have its own solar system!!

http://www.space.com/5094-alpha-centauri.html

http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/alphacentauri.html

Where is Alpha Centauri?

4.37 light-years away from Earth More than 25.6 trillion miles More than 276,000 times the

distance from the Earth to the sun

Why Don’t We Go Visit?

At a maximum speed of about 17,600 mph, it would take the space shuttle, about 165,000 years to get there.

Information from: http://www.space .com/5094-alpha-centauri.html

What Type of Star is Alpha Centauri?

Main Sequence star SAME AS OUR SUN!!

What Color is Alpha Centauri? Yellow-Orange SAME AS OUR SUN!!

Alpha CentauriThe Sun!

Can I See it Tonight in My Telescope?

No, Alpha Centauri is not visible to to observers at a latitude greater than about 25° north.

Information from: http://www.glyphweb.com/

esky/stars/alphacentauri.html

Is it in Any Constellations? Yes, Centaurus.

How Big is Alpha Centauri? 10% bigger than the sun. A: 1.1 solar masses B: 0.9 solar mass C (Proxima Centauri): 0.1 solar mass. Solar mass: 1.99 x 10^30 kg

Information from: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/ast99/ast99097.htm

Review and Game!

What was my star’s name? How many stars technically was it? What star was it like in terms of mass

and color? GAME!!!