Rigil Kentaurus
Star in Centaurus · 4.3 light-years
🔭 Explore Rigil Kentaurus in the 3D map →View Rigil Kentaurus images →| Type | Star |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 14h 39m 39s |
| Declination | −60° 50′ |
| Object distance | 4.3 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | -0.01 |
| Also known as | Alpha Centauri A |
Part of the closest star system to the Sun, a triple system whose faint red-dwarf member Proxima hosts the nearest known exoplanet.
Observing Rigil Kentaurus
Rigil Kentaurus lies in the constellation Centaurus and is best placed in the evening sky around April. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It sits far enough south to be circumpolar from mid-southern latitudes, and never rises for most of the northern hemisphere. At its brightness it can be found with the unaided eye under a dark sky and is easy in binoculars.
See Rigil Kentaurus in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Rigil Kentaurus and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position and distance from the HYG stellar database (Hipparcos · Yale Bright Star · Gliese).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- The Sun — star
- Proxima Centauri — star
- Barnard's Star — star
- TRAPPIST-1 — star
- Sirius — star