Tau Ceti

Tau Ceti (&tau; Cet / &tau; Ceti) is a star commonly mentioned by science fiction authors since it is similar to the Sun in mass and spectral type in addition to being relatively close to us. However, Tau Ceti is a "metal-deficient" star and therefore is thought to be less likely to have rocky planets around it. No companions have yet been detected through astrometric or radial velocity measurements.

In 2004 a team of UK astronomers led by Jane Greaves discovered that Tau Ceti has more than ten times the amount of cometary and asteroidal material orbiting it than the Sun does. This was determined by measuring the disc of cold dust orbiting the star produced by collisions between such small bodies. This result puts a damper on the possibility of complex life in this system, as planets there would suffer from large impact events roughly ten times more frequently than Earth. However, it is possible that a large Jupiter-sized gas giant could deflect comets and asteroids. On the bright side, this does tip the scales in favour of the star having planets.

Tau Ceti can be seen with the unaided eye as a faint star in the constellation of Cetus.

In Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series this is the home star of the invading aliens known as the Race.