The second closest star system to Earth is the Alpha Centauri system, specifically Proxima Centauri, which is located about 4.24 light-years away.
Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star and, although it is the closest to our solar system, it is not visible to the naked eye. The other two stars in the Alpha Centauri system, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, are a binary pair that are slightly further away, positioned about 4.37 light-years from Earth. Together, these three stars make up the Alpha Centauri system.
Proxima Centauri has garnered interest due to the discovery of an Earth-sized exoplanet in its habitable zone, which has raised questions about the potential for extraterrestrial life and the study of planets outside our solar system.