The distance to Proxima Centauri is about 269,000 times the Earth–Sun distance. Selected basis: approximate values.
The ring marks the true-scale position of the Earth–Sun distance; it does not show its width. Only the inset is enlarged (×38,700).
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. A ruler represents the selected distance or a measurement not visible in this view.
4.25 ly - Distance; approximate.
This is the distance from the Sun to Proxima Centauri, the closest known star to our Solar System.
Rounded NASA nearby-star distance anchor, 4.25 light-years. The Earth is not at the centre of the galaxy.
NASA — Our nearest celestial neighbour1 AU - Distance; definition.
The Earth–Sun distance, or astronomical unit, is the standard measure of separation between Earth and the Sun used in astronomy.
One astronomical unit is exactly 149,597,870,700 m. It is a useful Earth–Sun orbital scale, not the separation at every instant. Light takes about 8 minutes 19 seconds to cross it.
NIST — 2022 CODATA fundamental constants
There’s always another scale
SpaceDistance to Proxima Centauri4.25 lyThis is the distance from the Sun to Proxima Centauri, the closest known star to our Solar System.SpaceEarth–Sun distance1 AUThe Earth–Sun distance, or astronomical unit, is the standard measure of separation between Earth and the Sun used in astronomy.
SpaceMilky Way30.66 kpcThe Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
SpaceObservable universe28.21 GpcThe observable universe is the region from which light or other signals have had time to reach us since the early universe.
SpaceEarth12,740 kmEarth is the rocky planet on which we live and the third planet from the Sun.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.SpaceEarth–Moon distance384,400 kmThe Earth–Moon distance is the average space between the centres of the Earth and the Moon.SpaceNeptune’s orbital distance30.11 AUNeptune’s orbital distance is the average separation between Neptune and the Sun.Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?