V1054 Ophiuchi represents a complex multiple system of five stars, all five of which are faint, low-massreddwarfs. This system is notable as being by far the closest multiple star to the Sun, at an estimated distance of just 20.2 light years (the next nearest such system, Gliese 2069 in Cancer, is more than twice as far away).
At the heart of this quintuple system is a close binary, V1054 Ophiuchi A and B, of which the 'B' component is itself formed from an even closer binary pair (Ba and Bb), so that the primary element is a triple or ternary system. In combination, these three stars are also designated Wolf 630 or Gliese 644. Occasional powerful flare activity has been detected within this inner system of three reddwarfs.
The component stars of the V1054 Ophiuchi system are sufficiently separated from one another that they can be seen as distinct points of light. The central reticle here marks the triple star at the heart of the system, Wolf 630, while its fainter companion to the immediate northwest is Wolf 629. The third, outlying member of the system, V1054 Ophiuchi C or VB 8, is much fainter and more distant from the other two, but it can be seen as a dim point with a deeper red colour near the southern edge of the image, somewhat to the east (left) of centre. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas
Further out from this inner system are two additional reddwarfstars, with the next furthest from the inner triple being a star known as Wolf 629 or Gliese 644, at a distance of some 560 AU. Finally, far more distant than the other components, is the fainter V1054 Ophiuchi C or VB 8, which orbits the central stars at an estimated distance of at least 1,420 AU (and perhaps considerably farther out than this minimum estimate).
In combination, the stars of the V1054 Ophiuchi share their motion through the Galaxy with a collection of dozens of other stars. This implies that they belong to a 'moving group', a group of related stars that share a common ancient origin in the same open star cluster. This particular group of stars is designated the Wolf 630 Moving Group, from an alternative designation for the inner, triple part of this system.
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