David's Astronomy Pages (Projects)
Nearby Stars

Selected Nearby Stars Notes
Bullet Barnard's Star - 5.94 ly
Bullet Wolf 359 (CN Leo) - 7.8 ly
Bullet Lalande 21185  - 8.3 ly
Bullet Ross 248 (HH And) - 10.3 ly
Bullet 61 Cygni - (the 'flying star') - 11.4 ly
Bullet Gliese 725 (HIP 91768) - Double Star - 11.5 ly
Bullet Groombridge 34 - Double Star - 11.7 ly
Bullet Gliese 1111 (DX Cnc) - 11.8 ly
Bullet HIP 36208 / GJ 273 ("Luyten's Star") - 12.4 ly
Bullet SO025300.5+165258 ("Teegarden's Star") - 12.5 ly
Bullet HIP 3829 - Van Maanen's Star - 14.1 ly
Bullet Gliese 1245 (V1581 Cyg), star system - 14.8 ly
Bullet Gliese 412, star system - 15.8 ly
Bullet Groombridge 1618 - 15.9 ly
Bullet EV Lac (GJ 873, HIP 112460) - 16.5 ly
Bullet Altair - 16.7 ly
Bullet 70 Ophiuchi - Double Star - 17 ly
Bullet Gliese 752 - 19.9 ly
Bullet Vega - 25.3 ly
Bullet Groombridge 1830 - 29.9 ly
Bullet HIP 67593 - 43 ly
Bullet Gamma Draconis
 
Bullet Future Project Stars
Bullet Further Information
This page summarises observations and images of selected nearby stars, including stars showing large proper motion (movement across celestial sky relative to background stars) and detectable parallax.


Links : NStars database [http://nstars.nau.edu/]

 


Nearby Stars

Diagram illustrating the position of various nearby stars relative to the Sun
(Stars up 14 light years distance)
Image 
Original Picture  | Larger Picture | Stars out to 20 ly distance

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Barnard's Star (HIP 87937) - 5.94 ly

Barnard's Star, HIP 87937  (Ophiuchus) 
2nd closest known star system to the Sun 
only 5.94 light years away
Star with largest known proper motion
Hidden Treasures catalog object 87
 [ Hidden Treasures ]
Image 
CCD Image (Mag Limit +15)
5 x 60s (median combine), clear filter
2006-05-06  01:33 h UT (#122231-35)
 
Motion of Barnard's Star  ( 2005-09-30  to 2007-07-23 )
Measured Proper Motion 10.57 arc sec/year, PA 356.28 deg
(based on 3 observation pairs separated by one year) 
[ cf. Hipparcos Value 10.358"/yr, 355.6 ]
 Image
 Image
 
Astrometric measurement of control star shows that it is 
 stationary during the observation period which confirms that 
Barnard's Star motion is 'real' 
Image 
 
Parallax Estimate for Barnard's Star
Image 
Image 
  
Animation of Images taken one year apart, 
showing 10 arc sec motion of Barnard's Star
Image 
Animated CCD Image 
a) 2007-06-26  23:07 h UT (#201012-18), 7 x 10s (average combine), C Filter
b) 2006-06-25  23:49 h UT (#129162-68), 7 x 10s (average combine), C Filter
 
Comparison of Barnard Star position at 
2005-09-30 & 2006-05-06  (7.25 month period)
Image
Animated CCD Images
2005-09-30 : 20s, 2x2 binning, C Filter (#95034)
2006-05-06 : 10s,  1x1 binning, C Filter (#122252)
 
Image
 
Astrometric solution of Barnard's Star at 2005-09-30
based on 79 UCAC2 stars
Barnard's Star Epoch 2000 Position :
RA 17h 57m 48.14s, Dec 04d 42m 35.26s
Image 
CCD  Image 
20s exposure, C filter
2005-09-30 21:32h UT (#95034)

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Wolf 359 (CN Leo) - 7.8 ly

Wolf 359 / CN Leo (Leo)
3rd closest star system to the Sun,  
7.8 light years distance

Image
Annotated CCD Image
3 x 30 sec exposure (median combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter 
2006-12-02 07:03h UT (#156081-83)
 
Motion of Wolf 359  ( 2006-12-02 + )
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA -.- deg
 (based on -.-- year observation window) ]
[ cf. xxxxx Value 4.802"/yr, PA 186.9]
 Image

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Lalande 21185 - 8.3 ly 

Lalande 21185 / HIP 54035 lies is Ursa Major at a distance of 8.3 ly.

Lalande 21185 / HIP 54035 (Ursa Major)
4th closest star system to the Sun
Star system with 9th largest proper motion.
Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size) 
7 x 30s (average combine), 1x1 binning, C filter
2006-08-08 21:48h UT (#133011-17)
 
Motion of Lalande 21185  ( 2006-08-08 + )
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA -.- deg
 (based on -.-- year observation window) ]
[ cf. Hipparcos Value 4.802"/yr, PA 186.9]
 Image
 

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Ross 248 (HH And) - 10.3 ly

Ross 248 (or HH And) lies around 10.3 light years from the sun.  It is a main sequence red dwarf and is variable in brightness.

Ross 248 (Andromeda)
Also known as HH And
[ cf.  CNS Value : Proper Motion 1.617 "/yr, 177.0 ]
Image
CCD  Image 
20s exposure, C filter
2005-10-05  19:27h UT (#97044)
 
Ross 248 (Andromeda) 
Reddish tint to Ross 248 is evident in this approximate true colour image
Image
Approximate CCD  Image 
Clear 20s (C Filter), Red 3x 30s (R), Green 3x 30s (V), Blue 3x 60s(B)
2005-10-05  19:35h UT (#97044-59)
 
Astrometric solution of Ross 248 at 2005-10-05  
based on 65 UCAC2 stars, image scale 1.31 arc sec/pixel
Image
CCD  Image 
10s exposure, C filter
2005-10-05  19:30h UT (#97047)
 
Motion of Ross 248  ( 2005-10-5  to  2006-07-24 )
[Measured Proper Motion 1.6 arc sec/year, PA 160.0
 (based on 0.80 year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (CNS) value 1.617"/yr, 177.0 ]
 Image
Image 

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61 Cygni - Star (The 'flying star') - 11.4 ly

61 Cygni has a significant proper motion of around 5 arc secs/year, and is the reason behind its nickname - the 'flying star' . Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel studied 61 Cygni and was one of the first astronomers to measure annual parallax. 

61 Cygni (Cygnus)
comprising the double star pair HIP 104214 & HIP 104217
Image
CCD Image 
20s exposure, C filter
2005-09-30 21:00h UT (#95004)
 
61 Cygni  (Cygnus )
Image
CCD  Image (50% size)
10 x 5s exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C filter
2006-05-25 00:09h UT (#127080-93)
  
Motion of 61 Cygni 
[Measured Proper Motion 5.2 arc sec/year
 (based on 0.91 year observation window) ]
 Image
  
Comparison from of images from 2005-10-5 & 2006-10-25  
showing motion of 61 Cygni over 0.63 year interval
(White bar is 60 arc secs)
Image 
  
Motion of 61 Cygni A 
[Measured Proper Motion 5.3 arc sec/year, PA 052.7
 (based on 0.89 year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value 5.281"/yr,  051.9 ]
 Image
 
Motion of 61 Cygni B 
[Measured Proper Motion 5.2 arc sec/year, PA 054.7
 (based on 0.91 year observation window) ]
[ cf . Hipparcos Value 5.172"/yr,  052.6 ]
Image 
 
Separation between A-B components
 Image
Measurements from 2005 to 2007
suggesting gradually widening separation 
between A-B components at rate of ~ 0.1 arc sec/year
Image 

 

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Gliese 725 (HIP 91768) -  Double Star - 11.5 ly

Red dwarf binary system, located 11.5 light years from the Sun.  

Gliese 725 (Draco)
a pair of red dwarf stars (Struve 2398)
 located 11.52 light years away
(15th closest star system to the Sun)

Image
Annoated CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 30s exposure (median combine),  1x1 binning,  C Filter
2007-09-21 21:08 hUT (#215066-72)

 

Gliese 725 - detail
showing A and B components
catalog separation 13 arc secs, PA 003 deg
measured separation 12.1 arc secs, PA 356 deg,

catalog proper motion -  A: 2.28 arc sec/year, B: 2.31 arc sec/year

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
30s exposure (median combine),  1x1 binning,  C Filter
2007-09-21 21:08 hUT (#215069)
Motion of Gliese 725  ( 2006-09-21  + )
 Image
  
Motion of Gliese 725 A  
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA ---.-
 (based on -.- year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value :  2.28 arc sec/year ]
 Image
 
Motion of Gliese 725 B  
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA ---.-
 (based on -.- year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value: 2.31 arc sec/year ]
 Image
 

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Groombridge 34 - Double Star - 11.7 ly

Red dwarf binary system, located 11.7 light years from the Sun.  Brightest star is of mag +8.1 with companion star of mag +10.9.  Separation measured as 35 arc secs at PA 65 deg. WDS GRB 34 has a proper motion of 2.89 arc secs/year (I hope to record this motion with an image taken in 3-5 years time).   

Groombridge 34 AB are both flare stars, like UV Ceti . UV Ceti is an extreme example of a flare star that can boost its brightness by five times in less than a minute, then fall somewhat slower back down to normal luminosity within two or three minutes before flaring suddenly again after several hours.

Parallax and orbital motion of the two nearby long period visual binaries Groombridge 34 and ADS 9090.
Paper : https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1972AJ.....77..165L

WDS GRB 34 (Andromeda)
A - GX And, HD 1326
B - GQ And
[ Hipparcos Proper Motion : 2.918"/yr, 081.9 ]
Image
CCD Colour Image 
Approximate Colour
Red 1 min (R filter), Green 1 min (V filter), Blue 1 min (B filter)
2005-09-18 20:49h UT (#94008-12)
 
Image
CCD Image
20 sec exposure,  C Filter
2005-09-18  20:45h UT (#84006)
Motion of Groombridge 34  ( 2006 to 2008)
 Image
  
Motion of Groombridge 34 A  
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA ---.-
 (based on -.- year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value  ]
 Image
 
Motion of Groombridge 34 B  
[Measured Proper Motion -.- arc sec/year, PA ---.-
 (based on -.- year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value  ]
 Image
 

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Gliese 1111 (DX Cnc) - 11.8 ly

Gliese 1111 / DX Cnc (Cancer)

Image
Annotated CCD Image (46% size)
15 x 10s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2020-01-08 21:12 UT (#739040-54)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
 

Image

CCD Image 
60s exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-11-18 03:14h UT (#153274)
 
Motion of Gliese 1111 / DX Cnc  
Image

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HIP 36208 / GJ 273 ("Luyten's Star") - 12.4 ly

"Luyten's Star"  is a nearby red dwarf star, lying approximately 12.4 light years from Earth.  

Luyten's Star  (Monoceros)

Image
 CCD Image (50% scale)
7 x 45 sec exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2009-01-23 22:13h UT (#344101-07)
 
Motion of Luyten's Star
[Measured Proper Motion x.x arc sec/year, PA x.x
 (based on x.x0 year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (CNS) value x"/yr, x.x ]
 

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SO025300.5+165258 ("Teegarden's Star") - 12.5 ly

"Teegarden's star" (official name SO025300.5+165258) is a nearby red dwarf star, lying approximately 12.5 light years from Earth.  It was discovered was announced in 2003 by a team led by Bonnard J. Teegarden. It has a large proper motion (around 5.1 arc secs per year) and a annual parallax motion of approximately 0.26 arc secs  (more information on "Teegarden's Star").
[ Reference Proper Motion 5.106"/yr 138.2 (RECONS) ]

SO025300.5+165258  - "Teegarden's Star"  (Aries)

Image
 CCD Image (75% scale)
6 x 1 min exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-02-02 23:25h UT (#113012-17)
 
Motion of Teegarden's Star
[Measured Proper Motion x.x arc sec/year, PA x.x
 (based on x.x0 year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (CNS) value x"/yr, x.x ]
 Image

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HIP 3829 - Van Maanen's Star - 14.1 ly

HIP 3829 (Pisces)
Van Maanen's Star
(Alt names GJ 35, WD 0046+051, Wolf 28)

Image

CCD Image 
30s exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-10-28 23:40h UT (#150218)
 
Motion of HIP 3829  ( from 2006-10-28 onwards )
[Measured Proper Motion xx arc sec/year, PA xx
 (based on xx year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (Hipparcos) value 2.978"/yr, 155.5 ]
 Image
 Image

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Gliese 1245 - star system - 14.8 ly

Gliese 1245 (Cygnus)
(Alt Name V1581 Cyg)
Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 60s (average median combine), 1x1 binning, C filter
2006-07-23 23:49h UT (#131146-52)
 
Gliese 1245 - detail 
A, B,  (C : can't be resolved)
Image 
Annotated CCD Image (200% size)
Images details as above
 
Motion of Gliese 1245  ( 2006-07-24  to  2006-08-08 )
[Measured Proper Motion 1 - 2 arc sec/year, PA 303
 (based on 0.04 year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (CNS) value 0.731"/yr, 143.1 ]
 Image

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Gliese 412, star system - 15.8 ly

Gliese 412  (Ursa Major)
Nearby star system - 15.8 light years from the Sun 
Binary Star WDS VBS 18 
A - HIP 54211
B - GCVS WX UMa (1100+44)
[ Notes : Measured Separation : 31.3 arc secs, PA 126.3 deg
The magnitude for B component (+12.4) appears to be 
significantly brighter than its catalog range (+14.2 to +16.5) ]
[ A :  Reference Proper Motion 4.511"/yr,   282.1 , Hipparcos]
[ B : Reference Proper Motion 4.531"/yr,   281.9, CNS ]

Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 5s exposure (Average median combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-06-15 00:55 hUT (#128062-68)
  
Motion of Gliese 412  
 Image
  
Motion of Gliese 412  A
[Measured Proper Motion x arc sec/year, PA x
 (based on 0.xx year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value xx"/yr,  0xx ]
 Image
 
Motion of Gliese 412  B
[Measured Proper Motion x arc sec/year, PA x
 (based on 0.xx year observation window) ]
[ Hipparcos Value xx"/yr,  0xx ]
Image
 

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Groombridge 1618 - 15.9 ly 

Groombridge 1618  (Ursa Major)
Nearby star - 15.9 light years from the Sun
(Proper Motion 1.45"/yr)
Alt Name : HIP 49908, Gliese 380

Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size)
3 x 15s exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-11-18 03:56 hUT (#153323-29)
Motion of Groombridge 1618 ( from 2006-11-18 onwards )
[Measured Proper Motion xx arc sec/year, PA xx
 (based on xx year observation window) ]
[ cf. Catalog of Nearby Stars (Hipparcos) value 1.452"/yr, 249.7 ]
Image
Image 

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EV Lac (GJ 873, HIP 112460) - 16.5 ly

EV Lac / GJ 873 (Lacerta)
(Note : EV Lac is also a UV Cet flare star)

Image containing containing 82-85 astrometric reference stars
Image
Annotated CCD Image (75% size)
7 x 45 sec exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter
2008-08-26 00:52 UT (#297206-12)
 
Motion of EV Lac 
Image

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Altair - 16.7 ly

Altair (Aquila)
16.7 light years from the sun
Mag +0.8
Image
CCD Image, 
3 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
Log brightness scaling (100-1000 ADU)
2007-10-01  20:06 h UT (#217001)

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70 Ophiuchi - Double Star - 17 ly

70 Ophiuchi (Ophiuchus)
This star is a binary system lying 17 light years from Earth
The system has an orbital period of 88 years, with 
the pair swinging between 1.6 and 7.0 arc secs
[ Astronomy Now magazine, June 2006 ]
[ Reference Proper Motion 0.19596"/yr,  0.00087, Scholz et al]

Ophiuchi 70 (Ophiuchus)  and neighbouring stars 
Ophiuchi 70 and some of the neighbouirng stars comprise the multiple star Struve 2272
The following image shows the Ophiuchi  70 as a bright single object, 
due to the white-black range used to show the faint neighbouring stars.

Image
CCD Image (50% size)
3 x 5s exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-05-24 23:18 hUT (#127097-99)

Ophiuchi 70 (Ophiuchus) - Close up, colour view
The following image shows the two components as two distinct objects separated 
by around 5 arc secs and having noticeably different colours.

Primary star : Yellowish (catalog mag +4.2),    Secondary star : Reddish (catalog mag +5.9)
Measured Separation 5.2 +/- 0.5 arc sec, PA : 138 deg +/- 5 deg
FWHM 4.5 arc secs

Image
Approximate colour CCD Image (300% size)
Red : 3 x 10s exposure (average combine), R Filter 
Green : 3 x 10s exposure (average combine), V Filter 
Blue : 3 x 20s exposure (average combine), B Filter 
1 x1 binning
2006-05-24 23:18 hUT (#127100-108)

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Gliese 752 - 19.9 ly

Gliese 752 (Aquila)
19.85 light years from sun
Binary Pair with separation of 74 arc secs (434 AU)  
Gliese 752a
Gliese 752b (VB 10), Mag +17

VB10 or an Biesbroecks Star is a small very dim red dwarf 
of 0.08 solar masses. Star t is reported to have a exoplanet 
that has been detected by astrometry , 
however this has apparently not yet 
been definitively confirmed by spectroscopic data.
VB10 is a UV Ceti variable (flares)
Proper motion is around 1 arc sec/year.

Not yet imaged

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Vega - 25.3 ly

 

Vega (Lyra)
25.3 light years from sun
Mag +0.03
star shows significant glare
Image
CCD  Image 
20s exposure, C filter
2005-10-02  20:40h UT (#96002)

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Groombridge 1830 - 29.9 ly 

Groombridge 1830  (Ursa Major)
Nearby star - 29.9 light years from the Sun
Star with 3rd largest proper motion
Alt Name : HIP 57939

Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 20s exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-11-18 03:37 hUT (#153303-09)
Motion of Groombridge 1830  ( 2006-06-15   to  2006-08-24 )
[Measured Proper Motion 7.1 arc sec/year, PA 154.6
 (based on 0.19 year observation window) ]
Image
 

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HIP 67593 - 43 ly

HIP 67593  (Bootes) - BD+24 2650B
Nearby star 43 light years from the Sun
Star with 6th largest proper motion
Binary Star (WD HJ 2688)
A : HIP 67594
B : HIP 67593
[ Notes : Measured Separation : 29.7 arc secs, PA 292.2 deg ]

Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size)
5 x 60s exposure (Average median combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter 
2006-06-15 01:14 hUT (#128085-89)
Motion of HIP 67593  ( 2006-06-15  to 2007-03-04 )
Image 
A finder chart for HIP 67593 has recently been found on NStars database
http://www.nstars-sci.nau.edu/Main/subpages/charts/1495.00_chart.jpg 

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Gamma Draconis - Star 

Gamma Draconis was the star that the English physicist Robert Hooke made the first 'modern' attempt to detect annual parallax in 1669. His attempt was unsuccessful, and it was not until the 1830's/1840 that Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel and other astronomers first correctly detected parallax using slightly closer stars (eg 61 Cygni).  The star is probably too far away for it to show a parallax that can be measured using amateur equipment.  However to check this a baseline astrometric measurement of Gamma Draconis' position was made.  This task was made difficult as the number of catalog stars directly around the star is limited.  To achieve an adequate plate solution the star was moved to one corner of CCD field of view. 

Astrometric solution of Gamma Draconis (Draco) at 2005-10-13 
based on 8 USNOB stars, image scale 1.31 arc sec/pixel
Image
CCD  Image 
15s exposure, V filter
2005-10-13 19:29h UT (#99029)

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Future Project Stars

Potential Future Project Stars


Web Information on notable nearby stars :  http://www.solstation.com/stars.htm 

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Further Information

Notes ... 

Web Information on 
Solstation - Notable nearby stars
Top Hundred Nearest Star Systems, RECONS
Nasa NStars Database

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