Tau Ceti Facts

• Tau Ceti is only 12 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cetus.
• In the night sky Tau Ceti is visible to the naked eye.
• Like our sun Tau Ceti is a G-type main sequence star.
• The classification G refers to the surface temperature of a star, G-type stars have similar surface temperatures to the sun.
• Main sequence stars are fusing hydrogen in their cores which creates enormous amounts of energy.
• G-type main sequence stars are more commonly known as yellow dwarfs.
• Tua Ceti is the closest G-type single star system to the sun.
• In December 2012 it was announced that five planets had been detected orbiting around Tau Ceti.
• One of the detected planets orbits in the habitable zone around the star, an area where temperatures would allow the presence of liquid water on a planet's surface.
• Tau Ceti is surrounded by a large debris disk, meaning any orbiting planets may be under regular bombardements from asteroids.

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Like our sun Tau Ceti is a yellow dwarf, with a radius of around 340,000 miles (550,000 km), which is approximately 20% smaller than the sun. Tau Ceti has a mass of around 78% that of the sun. Like our sun Tau Ceti is a G-type star, meaning it has similar surface temperatures, Tau Ceti has surface temperatures of around 5,100C (9,200F), slightly cooler compared to the sun. Due to Tau Ceti's lower mass, size and surface temperatures, it is only around half as luminous as the sun.

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Also Known As: Durre Menthor

Distance From Earth: 12 light years

Constellation: Cetus

Star Type: G-type main sequence

Mass: 78% of sun

Luminosity: 52% of Sun

Diameter: 680,000 miles (1.1 million km) - 79% of Sun

Temperature: Approx 5,100C (9,200F)

Age: Approx 6 billion years old

Rotation Period: 34 days

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