Proxima Centauri is a STAR located in the constellation of Centaurus, approximately 4.2 light-years from Earth. It is the closest STAR to our Solar System and is classified as a red dwarf, making it the closest known red dwarf STAR. Proxima Centauri is also known as a dwarf STAR, meaning it is much smaller and less luminous than other stars. It is the smallest and faintest of the three stars in the Alpha Centauri system, the other two being Alpha Centauri A and B.