Tau Ceti is a single star in the constellation Cetus. Its name is a Bayer designation. Spectrally, this star is similar to the Sun, although it has only about 78% of the Sun's mass. At a distance of just under 12 light-years from the Solar System, it is a relatively nearby star and the closest solitary G-type star. The star appears stable, with little stellar variation, and is metal-deficient relative to the Sun.