Explained in plain English

Why Alpha Centauri?

Alpha Centauri is our closest star system, making it the natural first target for interstellar travel. It's actually a triple star system, with Alpha Centauri A and B orbiting each other, and Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf, orbiting them both. The Fermi Explorer is heading for Alpha Centauri A, which is similar to our Sun.