Alpha Centauri system

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α Centauri
LocationSolar Sector, Orion Arm
AffiliationIndependent
Star(s)
Stellar typeG0V (Rigel)
K0V (Toliman)
Planets14
Rigel – 8
Toliman – 6
Population2,133,840,000
GovernmentConfederation of Vajah
Rigel Republic
United Trilunar Republics
Centaurus Colonies of Toliman

Etymology

The name α Centauri (Latinised to Alpha Centauri) is the system's Bayer designation, being the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus. The common name of α Centauri A, Rigel, comes from Rigil Kentaurus, a Latinisation of the Arabic translation رجل القنطورس Rijl al-Qinṭūrus, meaning "the Foot of the Centaur". Before the interstellar age, this name was more commonly known for the star Rigel (β Orionis). Following this theme, all of the planets in the Rigel system are named after names of body parts in Arabic.

The name of α Centauri B, Toliman, is an approximation of the Arabic الظليمان aẓ-Ẓalīmān (in older transcription, aṭ-Ṭhalīmān), meaning 'the (two male) Ostriches', an appellation Zakariya al-Qazwini had applied to the pair of stars Lambda and Mu Sagittarii.

Overview

History

Structure and composition

Orbits

Composition

Distances and scales

Location

Celestial neighborhood

Warp lanes