Facts about Wolf 359

1. 07

   In 1918, astronomer Max Wolf discovered this red dwarf star through photographic plates, which is why the star bears his name as Wolf 359.

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2. 06

   Wolf 359's surface temperature reaches approximately 2,800 Kelvin, making it significantly cooler than our Sun's 5,778 Kelvin surface.

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3. 05

   Mass estimates place Wolf 359 at approximately 0.075 solar masses, making it one of the least massive stars capable of sustaining hydrogen fusion in its core.

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4. 04

   Approximately 2.4 million years ago, Wolf 359 passed within 0.9 light-years of our solar system, making it the closest star to Earth at that time during the Pleistocene epoch.

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5. 03

   Red dwarf Wolf 359 completes one rotation every 3.2 days, spinning far faster than our Sun's 25-day rotation period due to its smaller mass and radius.

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6. 02

   Wolf 359's luminosity measures only 0.0017 times that of our Sun, making it one of the dimmest known red dwarf stars.

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7. 01

   At just 7.8 light-years away, Wolf 359 ranks as the third-closest star system to Earth after Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri.

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