Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star and is the closest known star to the Sun.

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star and is the closest known star to the Sun. Here's a detailed history of the discovery and observations of Proxima Centauri:

Animated By Arabian Space Science

Discovery:

• Early Observations: Proxima Centauri was first observed by Scottish astronomer Robert Innes in 1915 at the Union Observatory in South Africa. Innes noticed its high proper motion, suggesting that it was relatively close to the Solar System.

Observations and Characteristics:

• Distance and Location: Proxima Centauri is part of the Alpha Centauri star system, which also includes Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B. It is located at an approximate distance of 4.24 light-years from the Sun, making it the closest known star.
• Spectral Class: Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star with a spectral class of M5.5, indicating a relatively cool and dim star compared to the Sun.
• Low Luminosity: It has a luminosity that is only about 0.0016 times that of the Sun, making it a faint and dim star when observed from Earth.

Relation to Alpha Centauri:

• Triple Star System: Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B form a binary star system, orbiting each other closely. Proxima Centauri is located at a much greater distance from this binary pair and is considered a member of the Alpha Centauri system.
• Motion through the Galaxy: Proxima Centauri shares a similar motion through space with Alpha Centauri AB, indicating that they likely formed together.

Exoplanetary System and Proxima b:

• Discovery of Proxima b: In 2016, astronomers using the European Southern Observatory (ESO) announced the discovery of an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri, known as Proxima b.
• Habitability: Proxima b is located in the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri, where conditions might allow for the existence of liquid water. However, the star is known for its intense stellar flares, which could impact the potential habitability of Proxima b.

Observational Challenges:

• Stellar Flares: Proxima Centauri is known for its frequent and powerful stellar flares. These bursts of energy can affect the conditions on any potential planets in its habitable zone and pose challenges for the potential habitability of Proxima b.
• Observational Studies: Ongoing studies, including those using advanced instruments like the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), continue to explore Proxima Centauri and its planetary system.

Future Exploration:

• Breakthrough Starshot: Proxima Centauri has been considered as a target for future interstellar exploration initiatives, such as the Breakthrough Starshot project. This project aims to send tiny spacecraft, equipped with light sails, to reach nearby star systems within a human lifetime.

Proxima Centauri continues to be a focal point for astronomical research and the search for potentially habitable exoplanets. Ongoing and future observations will likely provide further insights into this intriguing star system and its implications for our understanding of the broader cosmos.

Proxima's position in relation to Earth : Can be observed in the direction of the Centaurus the Centaur constellation, which is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. While it can be faintly seen from certain latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, many stargazers in the north claim to have never seen Alpha Centauri. Proxima is located approximately one-fifth of a light-year away from Alpha Centauri A and B. Due to its considerable distance from the primary stars, some scientists question its association with the star system. The provided charts offer a visual representation of Proxima's location in relation to our sun, other stars, and Alpha Centauri A and B. These neighboring stars, including Proxima, Alpha Centauri A and B, and our sun, all orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

The distance to Proxima Centauri is measured in light-years. Image courtesy of The European Southern Observatory ESO.

Regarding planets orbiting Proxima : the European Southern Observatory (ESO) announced the discovery of Proxima b in 2016. This planet orbits Proxima Centauri at a distance of approximately 4.7 million miles (7.5 million km) with an orbital period of around 11.2 Earth days. It has an estimated mass of at least 1.3 times that of Earth and falls within the habitable zone of its star. However, a study conducted in 2017 suggests that Proxima b does not possess an atmosphere similar to Earth's.

The image of Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our sun, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, is provided by ESA/ Hubble/ NASA.

In June 2020, scientists made another significant announcement, revealing the discovery of a second planet around Proxima, known as Proxima c. This planet is considerably larger than Earth and completes an orbit around its star every 1,907 days. Its distance from the star is approximately 1.5 times greater than the distance between Earth and the sun. It is worth noting that any planets orbiting Proxima Centauri would face the challenge of intense flares emitted by the red dwarf, which could potentially have detrimental effects.