Big Five – FeedThat is one designation for Alpha Fornacis, or as we say — Alpha IVnacis. This binary star is approximately 46 light-years or 14 parsecs from our sun. A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common barycenter – the center of mass of two or more bodies that orbit each other. They often look to be one star to the unaided eye. Research over the last two centuries suggests that half or more of visible stars are part of multiple-star systems.
Alpha Fornacis A (one of the two stars that make up the binary star) has a stellar classification of F8IV, where the luminosity class IV indicates this is a subgiant star. It has 33% more mass than our own sun and is an estimated 2.9 billion years old. To reach this star from our planet would only take 46 years if we could travel close to the speed of light. But, there is always a but, using our current level of technology… well, the fastest receding spacecraft we have is Voyager 1, which has been operating for 41 years and 3 months as of December 5, 2018, is exiting the solar system at 62,000kmh or about 1/17,000 the speed of light. Voyager 1 would take a staggering 17,000 years to go just one lightyear. To travel 40 light years adds up to about 700,000 years.
Suffice it to say, we won’t be ordering pizza from Alpha Fornacis anytime soon. Fortunately, you will not have to wait nearly that long to be among the first to receive our newest and greatest What’s IV. Yes, I know, we are persistent. Take a chance. Be among the first to get whatever it is. Why not?
To pre-order your What’s IV, CLICK HERE and enter your name and email address.
