Image of Alpha: The closest star system to the Earth is the Alpha Centauri group in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). They are an astonishing 4.3 light-years away and made up of the stars Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, plus the faint red dwarf Alpha Centauri C. Hubble Space Telescope captured this stunning view of the bright Alpha Centauri A (left) and Alpha Centauri B (right), flashing like huge cosmic headlamps in the dark