'Superflares' from stars counted

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Kepler telescope studies star superflares

Nasa's Kepler space telescope has provided fresh insight on the colossal explosions that can afflict some stars.

These enormous releases of magnetic energy -known as superflares - could damage the atmosphere of a nearby orbiting planet, putting at risk any lifeforms that might reside there.

Fortunately, Kepler shows superflares to be much less frequent on slow-rotating stars like our Sun.

The new observations are reported in the journal Nature.

Read more...

[Ashotep]

Glad our sun doesn't do that. We don't need that type of population control.

[jules99]

The study seems to support solar flares being caused by large planets, the most intense where large planets orbit close to a sun.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

The study seems to support solar flares being caused by large planets, the most intense where large planets orbit close to a sun.

Where does it say anything of the kind?

The only mention of planets is this:

It is looking for tell-tale dips in light that might indicate orbiting planets have just moved across the face of those stars. But in making those observations, Kepler is also gathering information on the sudden brightening that might be associated with flares.

There is no mention of cause and effect at all.

Kepler is a planet hunting mission. As the article says, it measures the drop in the detected out put of light as a planet passes in front of a star.

This ability to measure very small changes in the brightness level can also allow Kepler to detect superflares.

No association between planets and superflares is made or implied.

[jules99]

Where does it say anything of the kind?

The only mention of planets is this:

There is no mention of cause and effect at all.

Kepler is a planet hunting mission. As the article says, it measures the drop in the detected out put of light as a planet passes in front of a star.

This ability to measure very small changes in the brightness level can also allow Kepler to detect superflares.

No association between planets and superflares is made or implied.

Maybe not directly but they seem to be looking in that direction;

"That may be explained by current models which indicate superflares could be caused by magnetic interactions with closely orbiting giant planets - not something we see in our Solar System, where the largest worlds, Jupiter and Saturn, circle far away from the Sun"

Cheers.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Maybe not directly but they seem to be looking in that direction;

"That may be explained by current models which indicate superflares could be caused by magnetic interactions with closely orbiting giant planets - not something we see in our Solar System, where the largest worlds, Jupiter and Saturn, circle far away from the Sun"

Cheers.

My apologies, somehow I totally missed that.