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In this paper we outline the considerations required in order to select atarget star system for the Icarus interstellar mission. It is considered thatthe maximum likely range for the Icarus vehicle will be 15 light-years, and alist is provided of all known stars within this distance range. As thescientific objectives of Icarus are weighted towards planetary science andastrobiology, a final choice of target star(s) cannot be made until we have aclearer understanding of the prevalence of planetary systems within 15light-years of the Sun, and we summarize what is currently known regardingplanetary systems within this volume. We stress that by the time aninterstellar mission such as Icarus is actually undertaken, astronomicalobservations from the solar system will have provided this information.Finally, given the high proportion of multiple star systems within 15light-years (including the closest of all stars to the Sun in the {\alpha}Centauri system), we stress that a flexible mission architecture, able to visitstars and accompanying planets within multiple systems, is desirable. Thispaper is a submission of the Project Icarus Study Group.

Project Icarus: Astronomical Considerations Relating to the Choice of Target Star