image: The closest star system to the Earth is the famous Alpha Centauri group. Located in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur), at a distance of 4.3 light-years, this system is made up of the ...

Artist’s impression of a (now-disproven) candidate planet formerly thought to be orbiting the star Alpha Centauri B, which is part of the triple star system closest to Earth. (Courtesy: ESO/L. Calçada ...

The search for habitable exoplanets spans far and wide, pushing the limits of what our modern telescopes are capable of. But rest assured that we aren’t ignoring what’s in our own backyard.

Astronomers have found that some of the nearest stars to Earth may be better places for life than we thought – although it’s bad news for another. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please ...

The NEAR instrument has been hunting for planets in the Alpha Centauri system. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The hunt for ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky. This article is more than 5 years old. Alpha Centauri A ...

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has given us this stunning view of the bright Alpha Centauri A (on the left) and Alpha Centauri B (on the right), shining like huge cosmic headlamps in the dark.

The closest star system to the Earth is the famous Alpha Centauri group. Located in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur), at a distance of 4.3 light-years, this system is made up of the binary ...