<p>Alpha Centauri B is the closest star we know of that has a planet revolving around it other than the sun. We know of no planets in orbit of Proxima Centauri or Alpha Centauri A, but there are possible candidates. The planet around Alpha Centauri B (Alpha Centauri Bb) revolves in just 3.24 days which means it doesn't orbit in the habitable zone. The terrestrial planet is about 1.1 times as massive as Earth and scientist do not assume that it harbours life. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri#Alpha_Centauri_Bb" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri#Alpha_Centauri_Bb</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-21T01:29:59.247Z
Update 9/2016:  One maybe two planets have been found at Proxima Centauri. See this article discussing possible habitability.
Jack R. Woods
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-21T01:43:38.160Z
article for above comment .. http://arxiv.org/pdf/1608.06919v1.pdf
Jack R. Woods
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-22T14:28:32.357Z
For years I was under the impression we had discovered 2 planets there in the habitable zone, one slightly warmer and one slightly cooler than earth, both slightly larger. Then they announced the initial discovery of one single planet (mentioned in your answer) and my mind was blown. Where did I hear about these other two mystery planets that apparently don't exist? I can find no reference to them anywhere.
thanby
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-05-23T12:19:15.427Z
2019-01-06T11:54:31.383Z
2019-01-06T11:54:31.383Z
Astrony
<p>I read that a few years ago some planets were discovered orbiting Alpha Centauri. Has there been any more information since then concerning the possibility of life there? This is the closest star system to Earth, but it would still take us 63,000 years to reach it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-12T21:52:28.083Z
Where did you get "63,000 years"?
HDE 226868
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-12T23:37:01.787Z
ok, so I just checked on the internet and have to add another 100,000 years to the 63,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri with our present technology. It doesn't really matter because at the present time we can't get there.
Peter U
<exoplanet>
Planets orbiting Alpha Centauri
Peter U
# Planets orbiting Alpha Centauri

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-12)

I read that a few years ago some planets were discovered orbiting Alpha Centauri. Has there been any more information since then concerning the possibility of life there? This is the closest star system to Earth, but it would still take us 63,000 years to reach it.

**Tags:** exoplanet

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Where did you get "63,000 years"?  
> **username_0**: ok, so I just checked on the internet and have to add another 100,000 years to the 63,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri with our present technology. It doesn't really matter because at the present time we can't get there.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-23. Score: 0

Alpha Centauri B is the closest star we know of that has a planet revolving around it other than the sun. We know of no planets in orbit of Proxima Centauri or Alpha Centauri A, but there are possible candidates. The planet around Alpha Centauri B (Alpha Centauri Bb) revolves in just 3.24 days which means it doesn't orbit in the habitable zone. The terrestrial planet is about 1.1 times as massive as Earth and scientist do not assume that it harbours life. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri#Alpha_Centauri_Bb>

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: For years I was under the impression we had discovered 2 planets there in the habitable zone, one slightly warmer and one slightly cooler than earth, both slightly larger. Then they announced the initial discovery of one single planet (mentioned in your answer) and my mind was blown. Where did I hear about these other two mystery planets that apparently don't exist? I can find no reference to them anywhere.  
> **username_3**: Update 9/2016:  One maybe two planets have been found at Proxima Centauri. See this article discussing possible habitability.  
> **username_3**: article for above comment .. http://arxiv.org/pdf/1608.06919v1.pdf  

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