Rigil Kentaurus (α Centauri) is the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus in the southern sky. Alpha Centauri is a double star system about 4.34 light-years (ly) away.
It forms a hierarchical triple star system together with the orbiting red dwarf Proxima Centauri, which is 0.21 light-years away from Alpha Centauri.
Alpha Centauri consists of the brighter yellow star Alpha Centauri A and the orange Alpha Centauri B, currently 6″ away. Only 4.4° west is Beta Centauri, another 1st magnitude star.
| Rigil Kentaurus | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 14h 39m 36.5s |
| Declination | −60° 50′ 02.31″ |
| Apparent magnitude | −0.003 ± 0.006 mag |
| Distance | (4.34 ± 0.03) ly |
| Bayer designation | α Centauri |
| Bright Star Catalogue | HR 5459 |
| Hipparcos Catalogue | HIP 71683 |
| SAO Catalogue | SAO 252838 |
