Tau Ceti

Tau Ceti is a star commonly used by science fiction authors since it is similar to the Sun, being of similar mass and similar spectral type as well as being relatively close to us. However, Tau Ceti is a "metal-deficient" star and therefore extremely unlikely to have rocky planets around it.

It can be seen with the unaided eye as a faint star in the constellation of Cetus.

Some facts about Tau Ceti

• Parallax: 0.274 arcsecs
• Spectral type: G8 V
• Radial velocity: -17 km/s
• Proper Motion: 1.922 arcsecs/year
• Apparent Visual Magnitude: 3.49
• Absolute Visual Magnitude: 5.68
• Luminosity: 0.62 Solar Luminosities

Tau Ceti III was the location Jean-Luc Picard visited to meet with Captain Walter Keel about a Starfleet conspiracy.

See also:

• List of nearest stars