Ask A Scientist© Astronomy Archive

Question:  Does Alpha Centauri A, or B, wobble on its axis. If it did that would 
mean there would be a possibility of planets around it, wouldn't it?
explorer

Answer:  A triple star system in the constellation Centaurus:
A and B  form a visual binary that is seen as the third
brightest star at magnitude -0.27.  The third component,
Proxima Centauri, is the closest known star to our sun
at 4.3 light years.  as of now, there is no observation
of a star wobbling on its axis, and if there were that
could indicate planets or a dark companion star.  when
Hubble is fixed later this year, it might be able to
observe star wobble.
john (e-mail hawley)