h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Leave the first paragraph then:

If you were to talk to an astronomer about Alpha Centauri, you would find that that particular pinprick of light is actually a three star system, a trinary system if you will. Thus proving that 10 years of college can teach you something, even if it’s massively trivial.

The Alpha Centauri system has two roughly Sun-like stars and one small dim red star better known as Alpha Proxima. The stars of the Alpha Centauri system are the three closest to Earth (other than the Sun) at about 4 light years away.

Could there be life there? No one has even found a planet there yet so it’s too early to tell.

Let’s hope that if there is intelligent life there, they have a good sense of humor. Remember, our brodcasts of the Spice Girls will reach Alpha Centauri in only three short years.