WISE J104915.57-531906

The third closest star system to the sun, called WISE J104915.57-531906, is at the center of the larger image, which was taken by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). It appeared to be a single object, but a sharper image (inset) from Gemini Observatory in Chile, revealed that it was binary star system, consisting of a pair of brown dwarfs. This is the closest star system to be discovered in nearly a century. The discovery was announced in March, 2013.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Gemini Observatory/AURA/NSF

Note: For more information, see PIA17990: What WISE Can and Cannot See, PIA17991: A New Solar Neighbor, and NASA's WISE Survey Finds Thousands of New Stars, But No 'Planet X'.

WISE J104915.57-531906

WISE J104915.57-531906 is at the center of the larger image, which was taken by the NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). This is the closest star system discovered since 1916, and the third closest to our sun. It is 6.5 light-years away.

At first, the light appeared to be from a single object, but a sharper image from Gemini Observatory in Chile revealed that it was from a pair of cool star-like bodies called brown dwarfs.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Gemini Observatory/AURA/NSF

Note: For more information, see Closest Star System Found in a Century.