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Astronomy. a triple-star system that is the brightest celestial object in the constellation Centaurus.
Contemporary Examples

Alpha Centauri sought to write the next part of that story: the game aspired to tell “a history of the future.”
Nerdiness from Noah: Alpha Centauri Noah Kristula-Green March 28, 2013

Historical Examples

According to this notation, Alpha Centauri is spoken of as being about four and a quarter light years distant from us.
Astronomy of To-day Cecil G. Dolmage

Took his finger off the button and there we were: Alpha Centauri.
Accidental Death Peter Baily

“Perhaps you don’t know enough about the new system in Alpha Centauri,” he said, a trifle wildly.
The Most Sentimental Man Evelyn E. Smith

The Valhalla was on the return leg of a journey to Alpha Centauri.
Starman’s Quest Robert Silverberg

In Alpha Centauri, on the other hand, the two components are of almost the same magnitude.
Climatic Changes Ellsworth Huntington

We have drawn attention to Alpha Centauri as the nearest of the stars.
Astronomy of To-day Cecil G. Dolmage

The distances that separate the stars from each other probably average as great as the distance from the sun to Alpha Centauri.
Astronomy for Young Folks Isabel Martin Lewis

The two nearest fixed stars are Alpha Centauri and 61 Cygni.
Man’s Place in the Universe Alfred R. Wallace

Alpha Centauri, then, is four and one-third light-years distant, and 61 Cygni seven and one-fifth light-years away.
Astronomy David Todd

Alpha Centauri
(āl’fə sěn-tôr’ē)
A triple star system in the constellation Centaurus that is the third brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of -0.27, and the star nearest to Earth, at a distance of about 4.2 light-years. The two brighter stars, Alpha Centauri A and B, form a binary star system, which is orbited by Proxima Centauri, a smaller, dimmer star.