Talk:Alpha Centauri

Candidate 1

User:ExoEditor has created this article on the candidate planet at Alpha Centauri A. I'm not sure what to do with it, but it shouldn't be kept as is. It's certainly a notable topic, but as an unconfirmed planet candidate that was just recently announced, it's too soon for it to have its own article separate from this one. I'd just merge and redirect it here, but the title doesn't seem like a plausible redirect - "Candidate 1" probably refers to other things as well, and if the planet was confirmed, it would be called Alpha Centauri Ab. (Also, it currently reads more like a news release than an encyclopedia article.) SevenSpheresCelestia (talk) 23:37, 12 February 2021 (UTC)

I support this. I'd take some of the points from the actual article and add to the actual section under Unconfirmed Planets. TheWhistleGag (talk) 22:48, 27 February 2021 (UTC)

Alf Cen Bc impact parameter

This recent edit removes the claim that the planet candidate Alpha Centauri Bc has "an impact parameter of around 0–0.3" with the comment that Impact parameter < 1 means that a orbit is impossible so whatever the editor was saying needs some tweaks. Maybe excentricity? However, the paper supports this claim:

[...] We find that the STIS photometry yields an orbital period 2-σ upper limit of 20.4 days (the median of the posterior being 12.4 days), with a modest impact parameter ∼ 0.0 − 0.3 and an eccentricity 2-σ upper limit of 0.24.

I don't think this precludes the existence of the planet either, given that the NASA Exoplanet Archive lists over 3000 planets with an impact parameter < 1. SevenSpheresCelestia (talk) 00:00, 16 February 2021 (UTC)

A organizational Suggestion

For stellar system, can we organize physical properties of the three stars into a table? It might help with reading and comparing the stars. Nchen269 2:16, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

Changing "Ab" to "C1" in Alpha Cen A's planetary orbitbox?

I was looking at the planetary orbitbox for Alpha Centauri A and noticed that it had an "Ab" exoplanet present. However, the potential planet is mentioned in the surrounding section as C1 ("Candidate 1"), the name used in the discovery paper. I feel this may be slightly confusing to readers, possibly giving the impression that "Alpha Cen Ab" and "C1" are separate objects. I'm thinking of replacing the "Ab" designation in the orbitbox with "C1" - I would use a note to mention that the planet will likely one day receive the "Ab" designation pending further observations (but has not yet). Please let me know what you think of this proposal. Thanks for considering! Supernova58 (talk) 01:55, 24 July 2021 (UTC)

The name c1 is a purely temporary name for a hypothetical possible uncertain (add a few more qualifiers) detection. Ab would be the official name of the first detected planet of Alpha A. Don’t attempt to make c1 more prominent, if it gets confirmation it will get a real name. Tarl N. (discuss) 03:41, 24 July 2021 (UTC)

Makes sense! I understood that C1 is not a real name, I just like to try to make articles as clear as possible! I see where that might promote the idea of C1 being official though (although it is not). In that case, I'll just add a sentence to the section itself to clarify any confusion - I'll mention that C1 is a temporary name and that Ab is (as of now) the name it will receive if confirmed, following convention. Thanks for your feedback! Supernova58 (talk) 04:05, 24 July 2021 (UTC)

Requesting general thoughts/suggestions on the article

Hello everyone! I noticed that this article is rated as B-class. Considering its high importance rating, I think it should be made a GA as soon as possible. However, it's not there yet - it failed the last nomination. I'm asking anyone who's read this article (or contributed to it) to put their suggestions below. For example, I think the planetary system section is a little clunky. The more suggestions posted, the better chance we all have of eventually upgrading this article to GA-candidate material! Supernova58 (talk) 02:48, 9 August 2021 (UTC)

I like the article, not clunky. Gives a lot of pics and scientific data. Also a question - Would Alpha Centauri be the first system that we visit once we are able to travel at light speed?

Since we will almost surely never be "able to travel at light speed", that would be a no.2601:41:200:5260:2D36:29AC:1099:E53B (talk) 21:24, 8 September 2021 (UTC)

worth adding an "in popular culture" section?

can think of quite a few notable cultural works that heavily feature Alpha Centauri. Likeanechointheforest (talk) 21:59, 25 October 2021 (UTC)

Alot of people hate those sections. Best way is to find some secondary source that discusses various appearances/references to Alpha Centauri. There is also Stars and planetary systems in fiction, where almost all of this content got diverted to about 15 years ago. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 22:05, 25 October 2021 (UTC)

Oops - found Alpha Centauri in fiction (note this is a huge list of primary sources....) Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 22:09, 25 October 2021 (UTC)

Distance

Based on the new parallax (2021), shouldn't the distance be corrected to 4,344?--McBayne (talk) 20:44, 6 June 2022 (UTC)

Semi-Protection request

Expiration date: indefinite

Reason 1: High-risk page

Reason 2: This is one of the most famous star systems.

--2600:1700:6180:6290:B035:F1A4:CC25:7A4C (talk) 23:54, 16 June 2022 (UTC)

Split request

This page is getting too long, so can someone fell free to split it up, by the following:

• Alpha Centauri/Nomenclature
• Alpha Centauri/Stellar system
• Alpha Centauri/Observation
• Alpha Centauri/Kinematics
• Alpha Centauri/Planetary system
• Alpha Centauri/View from this system
• Alpha Centauri/Other Names
• Alpha Centauri/Future exploration
• Alpha Centauri/Historical distance estimates

Other

Thanks! --2600:1700:6180:6290:7D89:F761:BBA0:74D1 (talk) 20:22, 20 June 2022 (UTC)