Proxima Centauri (meaning "the closest (star) of the Centaur (constellation)"), also known as Alpha Centauri C or Alpha Proxima was the nearest star to the Sol system with a distance of only 4.22 light years. It was a red dwarf main sequence star (spectral class M5V), orbiting the double star Alpha Centauri at a distance of approximately 13,000 AU. It had a planetary system of its own with a settlement on the Proxima colony. (ENT: "Borderland")
A star chart depicting the location of Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C)
The location of Proxima Centauri was seen in a viewscreen chart displayed by the USS Enterprise-D library computer. (TNG: "The Naked Now", "Lonely Among Us", "Datalore", "Conspiracy")
In the 24th century, Proxima Centauri was home to Starfleet's Proxima Maintenance Yards. Under the command of Admiral Drazman in 2371, Commander Benjamin Sisko, Doctor Julian Bashir and Lt. Jadzia Dax planned to visit the Yards in that year. (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I"). It was also home to the Proxima Centauri Interplanetary Bowling League. (TNG: "The Schizoid Man")
The Federation starship USS Proxima was named for this system.
Template:Alpha Centauri system
Background
In a scene apparently cut from TOS: "Wolf in the Fold", a reference was made to Alpha Proxima II, that was later replaced in the dialog, but survived in numerous subsequent references. It was likely, if indeed this planet existed as it appears to have intended to in the original reference, it would have been the location of yet another colony, or possibly an alternate name for the Proxima colony.
According to the Star Trek: Star Charts, by Geoffrey Mandel,
- Page 19: Proxima Centauri was located in the Alpha Centauri Sector (Sector 002). This sector was the second to be explored by Earth ships.
- Page 36: Proxima Centauri was depicted as a location in the Beta Quadrant. This system had a world, or worlds, that was a member planet, or were member planets, of the United Federation of Planets. The system's alternate name was Alpha Centauri. This system was located within 10 light-years of Sol (Earth).
- Page 45: Alpha Centauri (Proxima) was depicted as a stop on the Earth trade routes.
As of 2024, it was not clear whether Alpha Centauri C was truly a member of the Alpha Centauri system or just passed it.
As of 2024 the chance remains for a possible (although still inconclusive) discovery of an actual, real-life planet orbiting Proxima Centauri. However, the object's status remains unclear, until followup by upcoming NASA planet-finding missions.