Estrela de Barnard vs Proxima Centauri
In the sky the advantage is Estrela de Barnard's, +9.54 to +11.01 and some 3.9 times the light. Only 4.23 light-years separate the Sun from Proxima Centauri; Estrela de Barnard sits 1.4 times further out at 5.95. Set side by side at equal distance the ranking changes — absolute magnitudes of +13.24 and +15.45 leave Estrela de Barnard roughly 7.7 times the more luminous. By spectral type the pair divides into a star for Estrela de Barnard and an M-type star in Centaurus for Proxima Centauri.
Property comparison
| Property | Estrela de Barnard | Proxima Centauri |
|---|---|---|
| Designação | N/A | N/A |
| Constelação | N/A | Centaurus |
| Classe Espectral | N/A | Class M — M-type (Red) |
| Magnitude Aparente | +9.54 | +11.01 |
| Magnitude Absoluta | 13.24 | 15.45 |
| Distância | 6.0 ly | 4.2 ly |
| Massa | N/A | N/A |
| Raio | N/A | N/A |
| Temperatura | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosidade | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Estrela de Barnard · Proxima Centauri
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are nearby red dwarf stars invisible to the naked eye.
- ◆ Barnard's Star has the highest proper motion of any known star (10.3 arcseconds per year).
- ◆ Proxima Centauri is closer at 4.24 light-years; Barnard's Star is 5.96 light-years away.
- ◆ Proxima Centauri has confirmed exoplanets in the habitable zone; Barnard's Star has only a sub-Earth candidate.
- ◆ Barnard's Star will make its closest approach to the Sun in about 10,000 years.