Proxima Centauri vs Sirius
Between magnitude −1.44 and +11.01 lies a factor of 95,499 in the light that reaches the eye. Spectroscopically Proxima Centauri resolves as an M-type star in Centaurus and Sirius as an A-type star in Canis Major. Sirius is the remoter of the pair at 8.60 light-years, roughly 2.0 times the 4.23 that separates us from Proxima Centauri.
Property comparison
| Property | Proxima Centauri | Sirius |
|---|---|---|
| Adlandırma | N/A | 9Alp CMa |
| Takımyıldız | Centaurus | Canis Major |
| Spektral Sınıf | Class M — M-type (Red) | Class A — A-type (White) |
| Görünür Parlaklık | +11.01 | -1.44 |
| Mutlak Parlaklık | 15.45 | 1.45 |
| Mesafe | 4.2 ly | 8.6 ly |
| Kütle | N/A | N/A |
| Yarıçap | N/A | N/A |
| Sıcaklık | N/A | N/A |
| Parlaklık | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Proxima Centauri · Sirius
Key differences
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.