Andromeda
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Nearby star

Tau Ceti

Also 52 Ceti · GJ 71

Open in Ouranos

The nearest single star similar to the Sun, a slightly smaller and older yellow star.

Measured

Distance
12 light-years
Constellation
Cetus
Position (J2000)
RA 1h 44m 04s, Dec −15.94°

How far, from the Sun

11.9 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light11.9 years
  • Voyager 1's speed212,000 years
  • Driving at 100 km/h129 million years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • It is the nearest solitary G-type star, the same class as the Sun.
  • Frank Drake observed it in Project Ozma in 1960.
  • Four planet candidates around it were reported in 2017.

Where this comes from

  • Gaia DR3 parallax 273.8097 ± 0.1701 mas, Gaia DR3 2452378776434477184 (Gaia Collaboration 2023, A&A 674, A1)

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.