<p>In about 26,000 years, Proxima Centauri will no longer be the closest star. Instead, Alpha Centauri AB will be the closest, but only for about ~7000 years, soon replaced by Ross 248 for 10000 years, and Gliese 445 for 6000 years. Then, Alpha Centauri will continue to be the nearest star for another ~28000 years, then briefly becoming Ross 128. Refer to the diagram below (sourced from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_stars_and_brown_dwarfs#/media/File:Near-stars-past-future-en.svg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/d6UOS.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/d6UOS.png" alt="star distances" /></a></p>
<p>Correct me if I'm wrong, and feel free to edit my answer if it needs improvement.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T23:29:34.433Z
The plot is out of date (thanks to Gaia), though your conclusions may still be correct.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T15:31:07.160Z
2021-03-03T16:08:04.623Z
2021-03-03T16:08:04.623Z
WarpPrime
<p>And, if so, will we have to change its name to Distal Centauri ;-) ?</p>
<p>Granted, its orbital period around the other two is about 550,000 Earth years, so we have some time....</p>

<star><distances><nomenclature>
Since Proxima Centauri orbits the other two Alpha Centauri stars, will it eventually be farther away from us than they are?
Kurt Hikes
# Since Proxima Centauri orbits the other two Alpha Centauri stars, will it eventually be farther away from us than they are?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-03)

And, if so, will we have to change its name to Distal Centauri ;-) ?

Granted, its orbital period around the other two is about 550,000 Earth years, so we have some time....

**Tags:** star, distances, nomenclature


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

In about 26,000 years, Proxima Centauri will no longer be the closest star. Instead, Alpha Centauri AB will be the closest, but only for about ~7000 years, soon replaced by Ross 248 for 10000 years, and Gliese 445 for 6000 years. Then, Alpha Centauri will continue to be the nearest star for another ~28000 years, then briefly becoming Ross 128. Refer to the diagram below (sourced from [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_stars_and_brown_dwarfs#/media/File:Near-stars-past-future-en.svg)).

[![star distances](https://i.sstatic.net/d6UOS.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/d6UOS.png)

Correct me if I'm wrong, and feel free to edit my answer if it needs improvement.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The plot is out of date (thanks to Gaia), though your conclusions may still be correct.  

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