What is the closest star to Earth?

The closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri. Located approximately 4.24 light-years away in the Alpha Centauri star system, it is the nearest known star to our solar system. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star and is part of a three-star system that includes Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, which are slightly farther away.

Proxima Centauri is of particular interest to astronomers due to its proximity and the discovery of a potentially habitable exoplanet orbiting it, known as Proxima Centauri b. This makes the study of this star relevant for understanding conditions that might support life outside of our solar system. As such, Proxima Centauri holds significant importance in the field of astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life.