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Table of the Earth's Nearest Stars |
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Table of the Earth's Nearest Stars |
| distance | star | magnitude | spectral class | ascension | declination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .000016 ly | The Sun | -26.9 | G2 | . | -23 to +23 |
| 4.2 ly | Proxima Centauri . | 11.3 | M5e | 14:30 | -62:41 |
| 4.3 ly | Alpha Centauri A | .33 | G0 | 14:40 | -60:50 |
| 4.3 ly | Alpha Centauri B | 1.70 | K5 | 14:40 | -60:50 |
| 5.96 ly | Barnard's Star | 9.5 | M5 | 17:58 | +04:34 |
| 7.6 ly | Wolf 359 | 13.5 | M6e | 10:56 | +07:01 |
| 8.11 ly | Lalande 21185 | 7.5 | M2 | 11:03 | +35:58 |
| 8.7 ly | Alpha Sirius | -1.47 | A0 | 06:45 | -16:43 |
| 8.7 ly | Beta Sirius | 8.3 | white dwarf . | 06:45 | -16:43 |
| 8.93 ly | A Luyten 726-8 | 12.5 | M6e | 01:39 | -17:57 |
| 8.93 ly | B Luyten 726-8 | 13 | M6e | 01:39 | -17:57 |
| 9.4 ly | Ross 154 | 10.5 | dM3.5 V | 18:50 | -23:50 |
| 10.3 ly | Ross 248 | 12.2 | M6e | 23:42 | +44:10 |
| 10.7 ly | Epsilon Eridani | 3.7 | K2 | 03:33 | -09:28 |
| 10.8 ly | Luyten 789-6 | 12.6 | M6 | 22:38 | -15:19 |
| 10.8 ly | Ross 128 | 11.1 | M4 | 11:48 | +00:48 |
| 11.1 ly | Alpha 61 Cygni | 5.6 | K5 | 21:07 | +38:45 |
| 11.1 ly | Beta 61 Cygni | 6.3 | K6 | 21:07 | +38:45 |
| 11.3 ly | Epsilon Indi | 4.7 | K5 | 22:03 | -56:47 |
| 11.4 ly | Alpha Procyon | 0.38 | F5 | 07:39 | +05:13 |
| 11.4 ly | Beta Procyon | 10.7 | white dwarf | 07:39 | +05:13 |
| 11.6 ly | Sigma 2398 | 9 | m4 | 18:43 | +59:38 |
Magnitude is the measure of apparent brightness as seen from earth, the larger the number the dimmer the star appears. A decrease of 1 in magnitude means the star appears two-and-a-half times as bright. A decrease of 2.5 in magnitude means the star appears 10 times as bright. Many stars have variable brightness. Stars with magnitudes beyond 6 are difficult to see without binoculars or a telescope.
The spectral class of a star attempts to determine its temperature, mass and size from its color and brightness. Most of these stars belong to the "main sequence" of star types.
Hours and minutes of right ascension are measured clockwise around Polaris, starting with the sun's position at the vernal equinox. One rotation = 24 hours. One hour = 60 minutes. The pointer stars of the big dipper are at 11 hours, Cassiopeia (the big W) is about 0 hours.
Declination (latitude) is measured in degrees and minutes of angle north (positive) and south (negative) from the equator. The declination of the north star, Polaris, is almost +90 degrees. One minute of right ascension is fifteen times as great an angle as one minute of declination.
The values given for ascension and declination are for January 2000. Stars move and the earth's axis precesses (wobbles), so these values will change slowly with time.