Which star is considered the closest to Earth?

The Sun is considered the closest star to Earth, as it is the central star of our solar system and is only about 93 million miles away. Its proximity is what makes it the primary source of light and energy for life on our planet. The intense gravitational pull from the Sun keeps all the planets, including Earth, in orbit around it.

While options like Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri are among the closest stars outside of our solar system, they are considerably farther away than the Sun. Proxima Centauri, for instance, is about 4.24 light-years away, making it the closest star system to us but not closer than the Sun itself. Arcturus, another option, is about 36.7 light-years away, which is significantly farther than both the Sun and the Centauri systems. Thus, the Sun's unique position within our solar system distinguishes it as the closest star to Earth.