Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Alpha Centauri: Peter Donlon Timothy Kang Astr 111 - Lab 2

    Uploaded by

    api-341262632
    27 views10 pages
    Alpha Centauri is a triple star system located 4.37 light years from Earth. It consists of the two bright stars Alpha Centauri A and B that form a binary pair, along with the smaller Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A is similar to our Sun, while Alpha Centauri B and Proxima Centauri are smaller, cooler stars. Due to its proximity, Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to our own Solar System, but current rocket technology is not advanced enough to get a spacecraft there within a reasonable timeframe.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    alpha centauri presentation

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Alpha Centauri is a triple star system located 4.37 light years from Earth. It consists of the two bright stars Alpha Centauri A and B that form a binary pair, along with the smaller Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A is similar to our Sun, while Alpha Centauri B and Proxima Centauri are smaller, cooler stars. Due to its proximity, Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to our own Solar System, but current rocket technology is not advanced enough to get a spacecraft there within a reasonable timeframe.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    27 views10 pages

    Alpha Centauri: Peter Donlon Timothy Kang Astr 111 - Lab 2

    Uploaded by

    api-341262632
    Alpha Centauri is a triple star system located 4.37 light years from Earth. It consists of the two bright stars Alpha Centauri A and B that form a binary pair, along with the smaller Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A is similar to our Sun, while Alpha Centauri B and Proxima Centauri are smaller, cooler stars. Due to its proximity, Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to our own Solar System, but current rocket technology is not advanced enough to get a spacecraft there within a reasonable timeframe.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 10

    ALPHA CENTAURI

    PETER DONLON
    TIMOTHY KANG
    ASTR 111 LAB 2

    WHAT IS IT?
    Triple Star System?
    Centauri A & B form binary
    Proxima Centauri orbits the binary (we think)
    Visual binary

    WHERE IS IT?
    1.34 parsecs/4.37 light years from Sun
    Part of Centaurus constellation A southern constellation
    Third brightest star in sky

    NAME ORIGIN
    Alpha Centauri is Bayer Designation
    Proper name: Rigel Kentaurus
    From Arabic al rijl al kentaurusmeans
    foot of the centaur

    INDIVIDUAL STARS
    Centauri A: 5-6 Billion years old
    Main sequence G2
    1.1 solar masses
    1.5 solar luminosity
    5,790 K temperature

    Centauri B: Also 5-6 Billion years


    Main sequence K1
    0.9 solar masses
    0.5 solar luminosity
    5,260 K temperature

    Proxima Centauri: 4.85 Billion years


    Main sequence M5 (Red dwarf)
    0.1 solar masses
    0.00005 solar luminosity
    2700 K temperature

    CAN WE EVER GET THERE?


    Chemical Propellant - e.x
    voyager 1: 17.3 km/s
    Speed of light: 300,000 km/s

    You might also like