Alpha Centauri & Beta Centauri: Closest Star System to Our Solar System | ESO

Alpha Centauri & Beta Centauri: Closest Star System to Our Solar System | ESO

At the center of this image of the Centaurus constellation are Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri, two triple star systems. The brightest stars of both systems orbit near to each other, making them appear as one star. Alpha Centauri is the nearest "star" to Earth except for the Sun. This photograph of the Centaurus constellation was taken at the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory.

Distance: about 4 light years

Credit: Zdeněk Bardon/European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: September 11, 2017

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