Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star located 4.24 light-years away in the Alpha Centauri system, making it the closest known star to the Sun. It has about 12% of the Sun’s mass and is much cooler and dimmer, with a surface temperature of around 3,000 K. Despite its small size, Proxima Centauri is highly active, frequently producing strong stellar flares.
It hosts at least two confirmed exoplanets, including Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone, though its habitability is uncertain due to intense radiation from the star.