Proxima Centauri vs Sirius
| Property |
Proxima Centauri
|
Sirius
|
| Designation |
N/A |
9Alp CMa |
| Constellation |
Centaurus |
Canis Major |
| Spectral Class |
Class M — M-type (Red) |
Class A — A-type (White) |
| Apparent Magnitude |
+11.01 |
-1.44 |
| Absolute Magnitude |
15.45
|
1.45
|
| Distance |
4.2 ly |
8.6 ly |
| Mass |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Radius |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Temperature |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Luminosity |
N/A
|
N/A
|
Key Differences
- ◆ Sirius is a brilliant A-type star 8.6 ly away; Proxima Centauri is a faint M-type red dwarf at 4.24 ly.
- ◆ Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun; Sirius is the closest naked-eye star in its direction.
- ◆ Sirius is 25.4 times more luminous than the Sun; Proxima Centauri produces only 0.17% of the Sun's light.
- ◆ Proxima Centauri hosts confirmed exoplanets in the habitable zone; Sirius has no known planets.
- ◆ Sirius shines at magnitude −1.46; Proxima Centauri at magnitude 11.1 is invisible to the naked eye.