Download Alpha Centauri

Renee Felker
ALPHA CENTAURI
ITS NAME:
Alpha Centauri Was often called Rigel
Kentaurus.
 Rigel Kentaurus means “foot of the centaur” in
Arabic.

FAMOUS FOR:
It’s the 3rd brightest star in the sky.
 And a member of the triple star system.

ITS MAGNITUDE:
Apparent Visual Magnitude=-0.3
 Absolute Visible Magnitude Mv.=4.4

BEST TIME TO VIEW:
Never viewed from northern latitudes(around
40 degrees)
 Traveling south below the earths surface,
across the equator you will see it.

FACTS:



This star is a part of the constellation Centaurus.
Also the closest star system to the sun.
Same type of star as the sun and believed to harbor
life.
Terrestrial Life
Conditions:
Questions for Any
Star
Sun
Alpha
Centauri A
Alpha
Centauri B
Proxima
On the main
sequence ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Of the right spectral
type ?
Yes
Yes
Maybe
No
Constant in
brightness ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Old enough ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No?
Rich in metals ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
?
Has stable
planetary orbits ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Could planets form
?
Yes
?
?
Yes
Do planets actually
exist ?
Yes
?
?
?
Small rocky planets
possible ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes?
Planets in the life
zone ?
Yes
Maybe
Maybe
No
ABOUT STAR:
Type= yellow- orange main sequence star.
 Size= About same size as the sun.
 40% brighter than the sun.
 4.3 light years away.

PICTURES:
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http://aether.lbl.gov/www/classes/p139/spe
ed/Alpha-Centauri.html
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=alph
a+centauri+&FORM=BIFD
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960526.html
http://www.windows2universe.org/the_univ
erse/AllStarTop.html