The star Proxima Centauri and its neighboring duo of Alpha Centauri A and B are the closest stars to the sun, lying a mere 4.2 light-years away. Proxima, the nearest of the trio, is a dim red orb with frequent, powerful flares that buffet the Earth-mass planet that orbits close to it.
DIGITIZED SKY SURVEY 2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: DAVIDE DE MARTIN / MAHDI ZAMANI