Star nearest earth
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Nearest Star to Earth: Proxima Centauri and Other Close Neighbors
Proxima Centauri: The Closest Star
The closest star to Earth, apart from the Sun, is Proxima Centauri. This small, low-mass M dwarf star is part of the Alpha Centauri star system, located approximately 4.24 light-years away from Earth2 4 7. Proxima Centauri is known to host an Earth-mass exoplanet, Proxima b, which orbits within the star's habitable zone. This planet has an orbital period of about 11.2 days and is situated at a distance where liquid water could potentially exist on its surface, although its habitability is influenced by the high-energy radiation from its host star4 7.
Alpha Centauri System: A Complex Neighbor
The Alpha Centauri system, which includes Proxima Centauri, also consists of two Sun-like stars, Alpha Centauri A and B. These stars orbit each other closely, while Proxima Centauri orbits the pair at a much greater distance. Despite extensive searches, no Earth-like planets have been confirmed around Alpha Centauri A and B, although they remain prime targets for future exoplanet discovery efforts due to their proximity and similarity to our Sun5.
Other Nearby Stars and Exoplanets
Beyond Proxima Centauri, several other nearby stars have been identified as potential hosts for Earth-like planets. For instance, the TRAPPIST-1 system, located about 12 parsecs away, contains seven Earth-sized planets, some of which are within the star's habitable zone. However, the masses and densities of these planets are not well constrained, making it difficult to assess their potential habitability3.
Another notable nearby star is LHS 1140, a small, cool star located 12 parsecs away. It hosts a rocky planet, LHS 1140b, which has a radius of 1.4 Earth radii and a mass 6.6 times that of Earth. This planet is within the liquid-water habitable zone of its star, making it a promising candidate for future atmospheric studies3.
The Concept of Earth as a Star
An unconventional perspective presented in the literature suggests that Earth itself could be considered a star in the final stages of stellar metamorphosis, specifically a black dwarf star. This idea challenges traditional astronomical classifications and posits that humanity is living on a star that has cooled and transformed over billions of years2.
Conclusion
Proxima Centauri remains the closest star to Earth, with its exoplanet Proxima b offering intriguing possibilities for habitability studies. The Alpha Centauri system and other nearby stars like TRAPPIST-1 and LHS 1140 continue to be focal points for exoplanet research, as astronomers seek to discover and characterize Earth-like planets in our cosmic neighborhood. The ongoing exploration of these nearby stars holds the promise of deepening our understanding of planetary systems and the potential for life beyond our solar system.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Star Populations and the Solar Neighborhood
Table 19.1 shows the 100 nearest stars to the Earth in order of increasing distance, with the first column indicating the identifier in the Hipparcos Catalogue and the last column giving the parallax in milliarcsecs with the associated standard deviation error.
Stellar Metamorphosis: The Nearest Star
The Earth is a black dwarf star in the last stages of metamorphosis, and humanity is literally walking on a 3 billion+ year old star, contrary to the established sciences' belief that the Sun is the closest star to the Earth.
PreprintA temperate rocky super-Earth transiting a nearby cool star
LHS 1140b, a 6.6 times Earth-mass planet transiting a cool star, is within the liquid-water habitable zone and may have retained its atmosphere due to its large surface gravity and cool insolation.
Very Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedA candidate short-period sub-Earth orbiting Proxima Centauri
A third low-mass planetary companion with a minimum mass of 0.26 0.05 M (about twice the mass of Mars) orbiting Proxima Centauri has been detected, suggesting a circular orbit and a possible habitable zone.
Past, present and future stars that can see Earth as a transiting exoplanet
1,715 stars within 100 parsecs of the Sun are in the right position to have spotted life on a transiting Earth since early human civilization, with 319 more entering this special vantage point in the next 5,000 years.
Rigorous JournalAstronomy: Earth-like planet around Sun's neighbour
Proxima b, a small planet with a minimum mass of 1.3 Earth masses, orbits Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our Sun, at a distance where liquid water and potentially life could exist on its surface.
Rigorous JournalProxima Centauri – the nearest planet host observed simultaneously with AstroSat, Chandra, and HST
Proxima Centauri's habitability depends on its high-energy radiation, which can be probed using Astrosat, Chandra, and HST observations.
Betelgeuse Fainter in the Submillimeter Too: An Analysis of JCMT and APEX Monitoring during the Recent Optical Minimum
Betelgeuse has dimmed by 20% at submillimeter wavelengths during its recent optical minimum, likely due to changes in the star's photosphere rather than surrounding dust.
Temperate Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star
Three short-period Earth-sized planets have been observed transiting an ultracool dwarf star, with the third likely receiving significantly less irradiation than Earth.
Rigorous JournalHighly Cited