Despite all the exotic exoplanetary systems discovered so far, the one potential system that has the power to truly galvanize astronomers as well as the public is Alpha Centauri A and B.
The star system lies a mere 4.3 light years away, but unfortunately it is only clearly visible from southern skies. The third member of the system, a red dwarf star called Proxima Centauri, yields no evidence for planets and is so far from the binary pair as to be inconsequential.
No planets have yet been discovered orbiting A and B either, but given the preponderance of planets everywhere else we look in our galaxy, it would be a much bigger shock if planets weren't found in the Centauri system after detailed
surveys.
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