Posted on 07/03/2011 10:34:44 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: The closest star system to the Sun is the Alpha Centauri system. Of the three stars in the system, the dimmest -- called Proxima Centauri -- is actually the nearest star. The bright stars Alpha Centauri A and B form a close binary as they are separated by only 23 times the Earth- Sun distance - slightly greater than the distance between Uranus and the Sun. In the above picture, the brightness of the stars overwhelm the photograph causing an illusion of great size, even though the stars are really just small points of light. The Alpha Centauri system is not visible in much of the northern hemisphere. Alpha Centauri A, also known as Rigil Kentaurus, is the brightest star in the constellation of Centaurus and is the fourth brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is the brightest even thought it is more than twice as far away. By an exciting coincidence, Alpha Centauri A is the same type of star as our Sun, causing many to speculate that it might contain planets that harbor life.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
I don't know, but I think the Cylons had something to do with it.
Weren’t the Robinsons on their way to Alpha Centauri when they became Lost in Space?
Two are in proximity (including the one most like our Sun), the red dwarf is .14 lightyears further from Earth, and a bit more than that from the binary.
http://www.solstation.com/stars/alp-cent3.htm
[snip] Proxima Centauri (or Alpha Centauri C) is only 4.22 light-years (ly) away (14:29:42.95-62:40:46.14, ICRS 2000.0) but is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. The two bright stars, Alpha Centauri A and B (14:39:36.5-62:50:02.3 and 14:39:35.1-60:50:13.8, ICRS 2000.0), are a little farther away at about 4.36 ly. They form a close binary that is separated “on average” by only about 24 times the Earth-Sun distance — an average orbital distnace or semi-major axis of 23.7 astronomical units (AUs) — which is only slightly greater than the distance between Uranus and the Sun (”Sol”). [/snip]
Whoops, sorry, closer to Earth, and more than that distant from the binary.
Why didn’t you tell her the ingredients the first time she asked you? Then you would have had time to post in peace.
Fred! FredFredFred...
Helpful old lady hint: I make a lot of our condiments and stick the recipes on the fridge with magnets.
Well, that explains it. Maybe I can get their email and strike up a conversation. Although I’m not sure I’d be able to keep up with someone on a massive, continuous sugar rush.
>>> We should have launched craft that direction years ago.
Ya never know, it might get there.. eventually. :-)
A year or two ago on a thread regarding the Voyager space probes launched thirty years ago, I did the math. To reach Alpha Centauri at their current speeds would take 98,000 years, give or take.
Depending on the lights.
Thank you, Fred, and for Post #40 as well.
I did tell her. Every time she asked.
Hmmm... It’s time to shut down the computer and pay attention to her.
Azimov always seemed a little dry for me. Jack Chalker I like.
The Voyager probes are moving faster than any craft humans have ever launched, but using propulsion that isn’t based on simple chemistry, the distance could be bridged in less than 20,000 years. ;’)
http://nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/ionpropfaq.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=plasma+engine
Hey, nice! I have Javascript turned off in my browser, but I have Java turned on, so this worked!
Note: this topic is from 7/03/2011.
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