Skip to content

11 Closest Star to Earth other than the Sun

Closest Star to Earth

Earth is the planet where we live and the star that hosts this planet is our Sun. Sun is the star and it is the closest to our Earth. But in this Universe, there are billions of stars. So, here in this article, you will know about the 11 closest stars to Earth other than the Sun. 

Our Earth with other solar system planets, sun, and other objects make our solar system. In this system, the sun is the star. But there are other stars near to earth that we will know in this article. These closest stars to Earth are outside of our solar system. Planets with their parent star can host life.

So, for Educational purposes, you may know here the closest possibility of living beings to us. Though, scientists have not declared any exact possibility of alien life yet. 

Closest Star to Earth

Here below are the 11 closest star to Earth besides our sun. The distance of these stars are given in light-years (1 light-year is around 9.46×1012 km or 5.88 trillion miles). The nearest star to earth are in the order of increasing distance from us. You will find other relevant information with facts about them. Check the below list of closest star to earth.

1. Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri is not a single star name though it is a triple star system. The name of these three stars and distance from the earth are given below:

  1. α Centauri C (Proxima Centauri) – 4.24 light-years
  2. α Centauri A (Rigil Kentaurus) – 4.36 light-years
  3. α Centauri B (Toliman) – 4.36 light-years
  • Location – Southern constellation of Centaurus

In these all, the Alpha Centauri C is the closest star to earth outside our solar system with a distance of around 4.24 light-years. The nickname of the α Centauri C is Proxima Centauri. α Centauri A and α Centauri B are sun like stars, and together they form binary star system. Whereas nearest star Proxima Centauri is a low mass and small size star. The approximate size of Proxima Centauri is just around 15% to our sun. 

2. Barnard’s Star

  • Distance – 5.96 light-years
  • Location – Ophiuchus constellation

Barnard’s Star is a red dwarf star with a distance of around six light-years away from us. It is a low mass star system with a stellar of around 15% to the sun.

3. Wolf 359 (CN Leonis)

  • Distance – 7.85 light-years
  • Location – Leo constellation

It is a young low mass star with a stellar mass of around only 9% to our sun. The nickname of the Wolf 359 star is CN Leonis. 

4. Lalande 21185

  • Distance – 8.31 light-years
  • Location – South of Ursa Major constellation

Lalande 21185 is a red dwarf star that exist in the Ursa Major constellation. According to scientists, approximately after 20,000 years this star will be at its closest position to us and that would be around 4.65 light-years to Earth. 

5. Sirius (α Canis Majoris)

  • Distance – 8.65 light-years
  • Location – Canis Major constellation (the Greater Dog)

Sirius is the brightest star that we can look at night from the earth. Sirius is also known as Alpha Canis Majoris. It is binary star system made of two stars, named Sirius A and Sirius B. Sirius A is main sequence star and Sirius B is white dwarf type star. 

6. Luyten 726-8

  • Distance – 8.79 light-years
  • Location – Cetus constellation

Luyten 726-8 is a binary star system of two stars Luyten 726-8 A and Luyten 726-8 B. Thee nickname of Luyten 726-8 star is Gliese 65. Whereas the nicknames of Luyten 726-8 A is “BL Ceti” and Luyten 726-8 B is “UV Ceti”. 

7. Ross 154

  • Distance – 9.70 light-years
  • Location – Sagittarius constellation

Ross 154 star is also known as V1216 Sagittarii. It is one of the closest star to earth but this star is fainter in visibility. We can not see it with naked eyes and need a quite good telescope to see this star. Ross 154 is just around 24% to our sun in terms of diameter. 

8. Ross 248

  • Distance – 10.30 light-years
  • Location – Andromeda constellation

Ross 248 star is also known as Gliese 905 or HH Andromedae. This star exists in the northern constellation of Andromeda. According to scientists, in around 40,000 years Voyager 2 spacecraft will pass from a distance of around 1.7 light-years with this star Ross 248. 

9. Epsilon Eridani (Ran)

  • Distance – 10.45 light-years
  • Location – Eridanus constellation

Epsilon Eridani is a star exist in the southern constellation of Eridanus. The nickname of this star is Ran. According to diameter the size of this star is around 73% of our Sun. This star can be seen with naked eyes. 

10. Lacaille 9352

  • Distance – 10.72 light-years
  • Location – Piscis Austrinus constellation

Lacaille 9352 is a red dwarf type star and the distance of this star is around 10.72 light-years away from the earth. The Lacaille 9352 star is also known as Gliese 887. According to diameter, it is around 47% to our sun but this star is very faint to be seen with naked eyes. 

11. Ross 128

  • Distance – 11 light-years
  • Location – Virgo constellation

The Ross 128 is the 11th closest star to earth and the fact is, it is just around 11 light-years away to us. Ross 128 star is also knonw as FI Virginis. It is a low mass and less size star. The mass of this star is around 17% to Sun and size in diameter is approximately 20% to Sun. It is a very fainter star to be seen with naked eye. 

So, these were the 11 closest star to earth other than the Sun. You must have known a lot of facts and important infromtation about them. And one of the interesting fact about them are, these 11 nearest star to earth are under 11 light-years to earth. 

You must check below Star Related articles:-