The Alpha Centauri System

The Alpha Centauri system is our closest star system, about 4.37 light-years away, and consists of three stars: Alpha Centauri A and B, which form a close binary pair, and Proxima Centauri, a small, dim red dwarf star. Proxima is notable for hosting the closest known exoplanet, Proxima Centauri b, which lies within its habitable zone where conditions might allow liquid water. This system has long intrigued astronomers as a potential target for future exploration and possible interstellar probes, due to its relative proximity and the presence of a planet that could, in theory, support life.