The Closest stars to the Earth
Note that this list is continually changing as astronomers discover
nearby stars with ever more sensitive detectors in a variety of
spectral ranges, especially the infrared, where numerous small stars
emit their energy. Recall that the brightest
magnitudes are the largest
negative numbers.
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distance (light years) |
Apparent Magnitude |
Absolute Magnitude |
Spectral Type |
| Sun |
|
- |
-26.72 |
4.8 |
G2V |
| Proxima Centauri |
V645 Cen |
4.2 |
11.05 (var.) |
15.5 |
M5.5Vc |
| Rigil Kentaurus |
Alpha Cen A |
4.3 |
-0.01 |
4.4 |
G2V |
|
Alpha Cen B |
4.3 |
1.33 |
5.7 |
K1V |
| Barnard's Star |
|
6.0 |
9.54 |
13.2 |
M3.8V |
| Wolf 359 |
CN Leo |
7.7 |
13.53 (var.) |
16.7 |
M5.8Vc |
|
BD +36 2147 |
8.2 |
7.50 |
10.5 |
M2.1Vc |
| Luyten 726-8A |
UV Cet A |
8.4 |
12.52 (var.) |
15.5 |
M5.6Vc |
| Luyten 726-8B |
UV Cet B |
8.4 |
13.02 (var.) |
16.0 |
M5.6Vc |
| Sirius A |
Alpha CMa A |
8.6 |
-1.46 |
1.4 |
A1Vm |
| Sirius B |
Alpha CMa B |
8.6 |
8.3 |
11.2 |
DA |
| Ross 154 |
|
9.4 |
10.45 |
13.1 |
M3.6Vc |
| Ross 248 |
|
10.4 |
12.29 |
14.8 |
M4.9Vc |
|
Epsilon Eri |
10.8 |
3.73 |
6.1 |
K2Vc |
| Ross 128 |
|
10.9 |
11.10 |
13.5 |
M4.1V |
|
61 Cyg A (V1803 Cyg) |
11.1 |
5.2 (var.) |
7.6 |
K3.5Vc |
|
61 Cyg B |
11.1 |
6.03 |
8.4 |
K4.7Vc |
|
Epsilon Ind |
11.2 |
4.68 |
7.0 |
K3Vc |
|
BD +43 44 A |
11.2 |
8.08 |
10.4 |
M1.3Vc |
|
BD +43 44 B |
11.2 |
11.06 |
13.4 |
M3.8Vc |
| Luyten 789-6 |
|
11.2 |
12.18 |
14.5 |
|
| Procyon A |
Alpha CMi A |
11.4 |
0.38 |
2.6 |
F5IV-V |
| Procyon B |
Alpha CMi B |
11.4 |
10.7 |
13.0 |
DF |
|
BD +59 1915 A |
11.6 |
8.90 |
11.2 |
M3.0V |
|
BD +59 1915 B |
11.6 |
9.69 |
11.9 |
M3.5V |
|
CoD -36 15693 |
11.7 |
7.35 |
9.6 |
M1.3Vc |