Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Alpha Centauri: The Closest Star System

NASA ^ | July 03, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Hey, where do you think humans came from in the first place? ;’)

I don't know, but I think the Cylons had something to do with it.

[bigheadfred]

Here’s the link to the near star map.

http://www.solstation.com/47ly-ns.htm

These are using Java.

[rabidralph]

Weren’t the Robinsons on their way to Alpha Centauri when they became Lost in Space?

[SunkenCiv]

Two are in proximity (including the one most like our Sun), the red dwarf is .14 lightyears further from Earth, and a bit more than that from the binary.

http://www.solstation.com/stars/alp-cent3.htm

[snip] Proxima Centauri (or Alpha Centauri C) is only 4.22 light-years (ly) away (14:29:42.95-62:40:46.14, ICRS 2000.0) but is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. The two bright stars, Alpha Centauri A and B (14:39:36.5-62:50:02.3 and 14:39:35.1-60:50:13.8, ICRS 2000.0), are a little farther away at about 4.36 ly. They form a close binary that is separated “on average” by only about 24 times the Earth-Sun distance — an average orbital distnace or semi-major axis of 23.7 astronomical units (AUs) — which is only slightly greater than the distance between Uranus and the Sun (”Sol”). [/snip]

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops, sorry, closer to Earth, and more than that distant from the binary.

[TheOldLady]

Why didn’t you tell her the ingredients the first time she asked you? Then you would have had time to post in peace.

Fred! FredFredFred...

Helpful old lady hint: I make a lot of our condiments and stick the recipes on the fridge with magnets.

[TheOldLady]

Well, that explains it. Maybe I can get their email and strike up a conversation. Although I’m not sure I’d be able to keep up with someone on a massive, continuous sugar rush.

[tlb]

>>> We should have launched craft that direction years ago.
Ya never know, it might get there.. eventually. :-)

A year or two ago on a thread regarding the Voyager space probes launched thirty years ago, I did the math. To reach Alpha Centauri at their current speeds would take 98,000 years, give or take.

Depending on the lights.

[TheOldLady]

Thank you, Fred, and for Post #40 as well.

[bigheadfred]

I did tell her. Every time she asked.

[TheOldLady]

Hmmm... It’s time to shut down the computer and pay attention to her.

[WePledge]

Asimov was always my favorite but Niven and Pournelle were
both great.Carl Sagan was a good writer too IMHO until he let his politics carry over too much into his stories. I read my sci-fi to escape that B.S..

[bigheadfred]

Azimov always seemed a little dry for me. Jack Chalker I like.

[SunkenCiv]

The Voyager probes are moving faster than any craft humans have ever launched, but using propulsion that isn’t based on simple chemistry, the distance could be bridged in less than 20,000 years. ;’)

http://nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/ionpropfaq.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=plasma+engine

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, nice! I have Javascript turned off in my browser, but I have Java turned on, so this worked!

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/03/2011.

• Hubble Search for Transit of the Earth-mass Exoplanet Alpha Centauri Bb
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A View from Next Door
• New Planet in Neighborhood, Astronomically Speaking
• Planet Found in Nearest Star System to Earth
• Alpha Centauri B Has An Earth-Mass Planet
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- In the Glare of Alpha Centauri
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Alpha Centauri: The Closest Star System
• Planetary Prospects Around Centauri B
• Astronomers Seek New Home Closer to Home
• Nearest Star System Might Harbor Earth Twin
• Nearest Star System Might Harbor Earth Twin
• Detecting Centauri Planets
• Alpha Centauri in Context

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