3 Solar Interstellar Neighborhood (ELitU)

This list of nearest bright stars is a table of stars found within 15

parsec The parsec (symbol: pc) is a unit of length used to measure the large distances to astronomical objects outside the Solar System, approximately equal to or (au), i.e. . The parsec unit is obtained by the use of parallax and trigonometry, an ...

s (48.9

light-year A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distance, astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 Orders of magnitude (numbers)#1012, trillion kilometers (), or 5.88 ...

s) of the nearest star, the

Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...

, that have an

absolute magnitude Absolute magnitude () is a measure of the luminosity of a celestial object on an inverse logarithmic astronomical magnitude scale. An object's absolute magnitude is defined to be equal to the apparent magnitude that the object would have if it ...

of +8.5 or brighter, which is approximately comparable to a listing of stars more luminous than a

red dwarf ''Red Dwarf'' is a British science fiction comedy franchise created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, which primarily consists of a television sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999, and on Dave since 2009, gaining a cult following. ...

Right ascension Right ascension (abbreviated RA; symbol ) is the angular distance of a particular point measured eastward along the celestial equator from the Sun at the March equinox to the ( hour circle of the) point in question above the earth. When pair ...

and

declination In astronomy, declination (abbreviated dec; symbol ''δ'') is one of the two angles that locate a point on the celestial sphere in the equatorial coordinate system, the other being hour angle. Declination's angle is measured north or south of th ...

coordinate In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The order of the coordinates is sign ...

s are for the

epoch In chronology and periodization, an epoch or reference epoch is an instant in time chosen as the origin of a particular calendar era. The "epoch" serves as a reference point from which time is measured. The moment of epoch is usually decided ...

J2000 In astronomy, an epoch or reference epoch is a moment in time used as a reference point for some time-varying astronomical quantity. It is useful for the celestial coordinates or orbital elements of a celestial body, as they are subject to per ...

. The distance measurements are based on the

Hipparcos Catalogue ''Hipparcos'' was a scientific satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA), launched in 1989 and operated until 1993. It was the first space experiment devoted to precision astrometry, the accurate measurement of the positions of celestial ...

and other

astrometric Astrometry is a branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. It provides the kinematics and physical origin of the Solar System and this galaxy, the Milky Way. Hist ...

data. In the event of a

spectroscopic binary A binary star is a system of two stars that are gravitationally bound to and in orbit around each other. Binary stars in the night sky that are seen as a single object to the naked eye are often resolved using a telescope as separate stars, in w ...

, the combined

spectral type In astronomy, stellar classification is the classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. Electromagnetic radiation from the star is analyzed by splitting it with a prism or diffraction grating into a spectrum exhibiting the ...

and

are listed in ''italics''. The list is ordered by increasing distance.

Stars within 10 parsecs

These stars are estimated to be within 32.6

light year A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers (), or 5.88 trillion miles ().One trillion here is taken to be 1012 ...

s of the

Stars between 10 and 13 parsecs

These stars are estimated to be from 32.7 to 42.4

s distant from the

Stars between 13 and 15 parsecs

These stars are estimated to be from 42.5 to 48.9

s distant from the

. A value of 48.9 light years corresponds to a minimum parallax of 66.7 mas.

References

* * * * * * * ''Note:'' see VizieR catalogu
V/130
* ''Note:'' this is a "volume-limited" sample of stars within 16 parsecs of the Sun. * ''Note:'' see VizieR catalogu
J/A+A/367/521
* * * ''Note:'' see VizieR catalogu
J/ApJS/168/297
* ''Note:'' see VizieR catalogi
J/ApJS/159/141
* ''Note:'' see VizieR catalogu
I/311

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:List of nearest bright stars nearest bright stars nearest bright stars nearest bright stars

Stars within 10 parsecs

Stars between 10 and 13 parsecs

Stars between 13 and 15 parsecs

See also

References

External links