The closest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, about 4.24 light years away. It is an M-type red dwarf in the Alpha Centauri system (including Alpha Centauri A, B and Proxima).
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| Photo image Erdin Halil |
Proxima has at least two confirmed planets:
Proxima Centauri b: has a mass approximately equal to Earth, located in the habitable zone. This is the most promising candidate for the possibility of life outside our closest Solar System.
Proxima Centauri d: much smaller, orbits closer, unlikely to support life.
In addition, there have been hints of a giant planet Proxima Centauri c, but this is not certain.
Challenges for life on Proxima b:
Active red dwarf: Proxima erupts with frequent bursts of ultraviolet and X-rays, which could strip the planet of its atmosphere.
Tidal locking: the planet could be tidally locked (one side always facing the star), making one side hot and the other cold and dark, making it difficult to stabilize its temperature.
Atmosphere & magnetic field: If Proxima b had a thick atmosphere and a strong magnetic field like Earth, it could withstand the radiation and maintain stable conditions for liquid water – making life possible.
Beyond Proxima Centauri:
Other nearby stars like Alpha Centauri A & B (more Sun-like) are also better candidates in the long run. Newer telescopes (like the ELT, James Webb, and the Future Space Project) are hunting for Earth-like planets there.
Bottom line: The closest candidate for a potentially habitable world is Proxima Centauri b – a quasi-Earth-like planet that sits right next to our astronomical neighbor. Whether it actually supports life, however, depends largely on its ability to retain an atmosphere and protect it from red dwarf radiation.
