GJ 3379

GJ 3379, also known as Giclas 99-49, is the closest star found in the Orion constellation. It lies about 17 light years from our Sun, which means it is too faint to see without special equipment. With an apparent visual magnitude of +11.31, this star cannot be spotted with the naked eye.

Located in the upper left area of Orion, GJ 3379 sits to the southeast of the bright star Betelgeuse. Scientists study this star to learn more about objects that are nearby in our cosmic neighborhood.

Interestingly, GJ 3379 had a close approach to our Solar System in the distant past. Around 161,000 years ago, it came as close as about 4 light years from the Solar System. Today, it is moving away from us at a speed of +30 kilometers per second, as measured by its radial velocity. This star gives astronomers valuable information about the motion and history of stars near Earth.

Physical characteristics

GJ 3379 is a small red dwarf star, which means it is cooler and less bright than our Sun. It belongs to a group called M-type main-sequence stars and shines with only a tiny fraction of the Sun’s light.

This star changes its brightness slightly and spins very quickly, completing a full rotation in just 1.8 days. It also gives off energy in the form of X-rays and has a strong magnetic field. According to the SIMBAD database, GJ 3379 is known as an eruptive variable.