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Putting sizes in perspective

Proxima Centauri and Sun: size and distance

In the Size explorer, the order follows dimensions. Proxima is smaller than the Sun. In a distance journey from Earth, however, the Sun is much closer.

Sun: a dimension about 6.478 times that of Proxima Centauri using the adopted values.

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Why does Proxima appear before the Sun?

Dimensions adopted for the calculation
ReferenceDimension
Proxima Centauri215,000 km
Approximate diameter
Sun1,392,700 km
Mean diameter ≈ 1 393 000 km

Calculation: 1,392,700 km ÷ 215,000 km, after conversion into the same unit. The ratio calculated from the catalogue data is about 6.478.

Both illustrations use a common factor for the stated dimension. Positions aid reading and do not represent physical separation.

Switch modes in the explorer to distinguish stellar diameter from the distance between celestial bodies.

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Proxima Centauri

A small red dwarf and the Sun's nearest stellar neighbour. Proxima Centauri is much less luminous than the Sun and invisible to the naked eye. The reference compares the star's diameter, not its distance from our system.

Catalogue order of magnitude; a source is provided, but this measurement has not been individually audited.

Sun

The diameter concerns the photosphere, the apparent luminous surface. The solar corona extends much farther.

Approximate catalogue reference; a source is provided, but the measurement has not been individually audited.

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