Proper Name: Proxima (Centauri)
Bayer Designation: Alpha Centauri C
Constellation: Centaurus
Right Ascension: 14 29 42.95
Declination: -62 40 46.1
Distance: 4.24 light years, or 1.3 parsecs
Spectral Type: M5 Ve
Apparent Magnitude: 11.05
B-V Color: 1.97

Proxima Centauri, a faint red dwarf star, is a member of the Alpha Centauri system in the constellation Centaurus. The center of the Alpha Centauri system lies 4.28 light years away. At 4.24 light years away, Proxima Centauri is our Sun's nearest stellar neighbor.

Even though Proxima Centauri is closer to the Earth than any other star, it is small and shines with a dim red light, making it invisible to the naked eye.

Two other stars are joined by Proxima Centauri (also called Alpha Centauri C) in the Alpha Centauri system: the yellow and orange dwarf stars that are Alpha Centauri A and B, respectively. In the constellation Centaurus, Alpha Centauri represents the foot of the Centaur, at the southeast corner of the constellation.

Sources: Extrasolar Visions (http://www.jtwinc.com/Extrasolar/) and The Electronic Sky (http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/)