Proxima Centauri
From All Skies Encyclopaedia
Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula
| Asterism Info | |
| Native | Proxima and Centauri |
|---|---|
| Translation | the Nearest Centauri star |
| Position (2000) | |
| Right ascension | 217.428953 |
| Declination | -62.679484 |
| Area | 0 sq. deg. |
| Stars | |
| Bright stars | 1 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 1 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Brightest star | Proxima Centauri (11.01m) |
| Taxonomy | |
| category of asterism | IAU-Star Name |
| IAU- constellations | Cen |
Proxima Centauri is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 70890 (α Cen C, GJ 551) in constellation Cen.
Etymology and History
Its recent Latin name meaning "the Nearest", as this component of the system is currently the nearest star to our Solar System.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.
Weblinks
- Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/
Reference
- References (general)
- Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub.
