The closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri. It is part of the Alpha Centauri star system, located approximately 4.24 light-years away from our planet. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star and is much smaller and cooler than our Sun. Despite its proximity, it is not visible to the naked eye due to its low luminosity. Proxima Centauri has gained significant interest in recent years because it is known to have at least one exoplanet, Proxima b, situated in the habitable zone where conditions could allow for liquid water. This discovery has sparked curiosity about the potential for extraterrestrial life.