Alpha Centauri

:This article is about the star system. For the computer game, see Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.

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Alpha Centauri (α Cen / α Centauri) is the brightest star system (a triple star system) in the southern constellation of Centaurus, and contains the fourth brightest star in the sky, with a total visual magnitude of −0.01. It is famous in the Southern Hemisphere as the outermost “pointer” to the Southern Cross, but it is too far south to be visible in most of the northern hemisphere.

Related Topics:
Star system - Constellation - Centaurus - Fourth brightest star - Visual magnitude - Southern Cross

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It is the closest star system beyond our own solar system, at 4.2–4.4 light-years. That makes it a logical choice as "first port of call" for science fiction speculation about space travel. In fact many novels, video games, and the like focus on man's eventual exploration of the system, and even colonisation of speculative planets within the system.

Related Topics:
Star - Solar system - Light-year - Science fiction - Novels - Video game - Planet

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