Future and Past
Ross 248, currently at a distance of 10.3 light-years, has a radial velocity of −81 km/s. In about 31,000 years it may be the closest star to the Sun for several millennia, with a minimum distance of 0.927 parsecs (3.02 light-years) in 36,000 years. Gliese 445, currently at a distance of 17.6 light-years, has a radial velocity of −119 km/s. In about 40,000 years it will be the closest star for a period of several thousand years.
Known Hipparcos stars that have or will pass within 5.1 light-years of the Sun within ±2 million years:
| Star Name |
HIP# |
Minimum distance in parsecs |
Minimum distance in light-years |
Approach date in kiloyears |
Current distance in parsecs |
Current distance in light-years |
Stellar classification |
Mass in M☉ |
Current apparent magnitude |
Constellation |
Right ascension |
Declination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gliese 710 | 89825 | 0.311 | 1.01 | 1447 | 19.3 | 62.9 | K7V | 0.4–0.6 | 9.6 | Serpens | 18h 19m 50.843s | −01° 56′ 18.98″ |
| Proxima Centauri | 70890 | 0.890 | 2.90 | 27.4 | 1.29 | 4.24 | M5Ve | 0.15 | 11.05 | Centaurus | 14h 29m 42.949s | −62° 40′ 46.14″ |
| Alpha Centauri A | 71683 | 0.910 | 2.97 | 28.4 | 1.338 | 4.36 | G2V | 1.100 | −0.01 | Centaurus | 14h 39m 36.495s | −60° 50′ 02.31″ |
| Alpha Centauri B | 71681 | 0.910 | 2.97 | 28.4 | 1.338 | 4.36 | K1V | 0.907 | 1.33 | Centaurus | 14h 39m 35.080s | −60° 50′ 13.76″ |
| AC+79 3888 | 57544 | 1.059 | 3.45 | 46.0 | 5.39 | 17.6 | M4 | 0.15? | 10.8 | Camelopardalis | 11h 47m 41.377s | +78° 41′ 28.18″ |
| Barnard's Star | 87937 | 1.148 | 3.74 | 9.8 | 1.834 | 5.98 | sdM4 | 0.144 | 9.54 | Ophiuchus | 17h 57m 48.498s | +04° 41′ 36.25″ |
| Zeta Leporis | 27288 | 1.275 | 4.16 | −861 | 21.5 | 70.2 | A2Vann | 2.0 | 3.55 | Lepus | 05h 46m 57.341s | −14° 49′ 19.02″ |
| Lalande 21185 | 54035 | 1.426 | 4.65 | 20.5 | 2.55 | 8.32 | M2V | 0.39 | 7.52 | Ursa Major | 11h 03m 20.194s | +35° 58′ 11.55″ |
| Gliese 208 | 26335 | 1.537 | 5.01 | −500 | 11.38 | 37.1 | K7 | 0.47 | 8.9 | Orion | 05h 36m 30.991s | +11° 19′ 40.32″ |
Read more about this topic: List Of Nearest Stars
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—Marshall McLuhan (1911–1980)