Alpha Centauri, our nearest stellar neighbor, is moving closer to Earth at a slow pace. In about 3,000 years, it will be at its closest point to the Sun. However, new research suggests that material from Alpha Centauri has already entered our solar system. The triple star system, comprising two Sun-like stars and a red dwarf, ejects material into interstellar space as it travels through the cosmos.
A recent study estimates that around one million objects from Alpha Centauri have entered our solar system over the past 10 million years. Researchers used Alpha Centauri as a case study to understand how material from nearby star systems can enter our solar system. They found that approximately one million objects larger than 328 feet may be lurking in the Oort Cloud, a region of our solar system.
The study proposes an idea based on computer simulations and suggests that any material currently leaving Alpha Centauri at low speed would be heading towards the Sun. While astronomers have yet to detect any interstellar material from Alpha Centauri, identifying such material could provide valuable insights into the nearby star system.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/chunks-of-alpha-centauri-our-closest-stellar-neighbor-might-have-already-reached-us-2000564188