images

Flare star - Artist view

by

Don Dixon/Novapix

Reference

a-eto99-10061

Date

2007-05-29

A flare star is a variable star which can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes or a few hours. The brightness increase is across the spectrum, from X-rays to radio waves. Flare stars are dim red dwarfs, although recent research indicates that brown dwarfs might also be capable of flaring.