Barnard's Star vs Rigil Kentaurus
Between magnitude −0.01 and +9.54 lies a factor of 6,607 in the light that reaches the eye. Only 4.32 light-years separate the Sun from Rigil Kentaurus; Barnard's Star sits 1.4 times further out at 5.95. Set side by side at equal distance the ranking changes — absolute magnitudes of +4.38 and +13.24 leave Rigil Kentaurus roughly 3,499 times the more luminous.
Property comparison
| Property | Barnard's Star | Rigil Kentaurus |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | N/A | Alp1Cen |
| Constellation | N/A | Centaurus |
| Spectral Class | N/A | Class G — G-type (Yellow) |
| Apparent Magnitude | +9.54 | -0.01 |
| Absolute Magnitude | 13.24 | 4.38 |
| Distance | 6.0 ly | 4.3 ly |
| Mass | N/A | N/A |
| Radius | N/A | N/A |
| Temperature | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosity | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Barnard's Star · Rigil Kentaurus
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are among the very closest stars to the Sun, though radically different in character.
- ◆ Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Cen A) is a G-type solar twin at 4.37 ly; Barnard's Star is an M-type red dwarf at 5.96 ly.
- ◆ Barnard's Star has the largest proper motion in the sky (10.3 arcsec/yr); Rigil Kentaurus also has significant proper motion.
- ◆ Rigil Kentaurus is far brighter and more massive than Barnard's Star.
- ◆ Barnard's Star is the second-closest star system; Alpha Centauri (including Proxima) is the closest.