1948Every Day ScienceMedium
What is the distance of the star Proxima Centauri from the planet Earth ________?
A4.2 light years
B1.5 light years
C3.2 light years
D2.4 light years
Correct answer
A. 4.2 light years
Explanation
Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our own, is still 40,208,000,000,000 km away. (Or about 268,770 AU.) When we talk about the distances to the stars, we no longer use the AU, or Astronomical Unit; commonly, the light year is used. A light year is the distance light travels in one year – it is equal to 9.461 x 1012 km. Alpha Centauri A & B are roughly 4.35 light years away from us. Proxima Centauri is slightly closer at 4.25 light years.