Alpha Centauri, what is often considered the second closest star to Earth, is not a star, but really a star system. Of the three stars in the system, the dimmest - called Proxima Centauri - is actually the nearest star to the Earth (after the Sun). The two bright stars, called Alpha Centauri A and B form a close binary system.
Cite:
http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/cosmic/nearest_star_info.html
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