The third-brightest star in the sky, Alpha (α) Centauri, gleams in the southern constellation Centaurus. Since it is positioned at a declination of almost –61°, only stargazers located south of latitude 29° have any hope of seeing it. But those who can will never forget their first glimpse. Proximity is the main reason this star, also known as Rigel Kentaurus, appears so bright in our sky. At just 4.37 light-years away, it’s our nearest stellar neighbor.
When we look