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Flare stars

Posted: 14.10.2003, 18:50
by wtimmins
Is it possible to do something like flare stars?

Posted: 13.11.2003, 05:59
by Bob Hegwood
wtimmins,

I'll bite... :)

What the heck is a flare star? I don't see why it can't be done, but I'm afraid that I just don't know what your'e talking about?

Can you elaborate please for us rookies to space terminology?

Thanks, Bob

Posted: 13.11.2003, 17:36
by JackHiggins
I could be way off here, but I think he means solar flares, CME's etc?!

It would be nice to see that in celestia too, but before we can get that we need some of the more basic aspects of solar physics simulated first, like oblateness etc.

Posted: 13.11.2003, 19:17
by selden
A "flare star" is a small, dim, class M variable star which has unpredictable changes in luminosity. The best explanation is that those kinds of stars are experiencing flares somewhat similar to what we see on the sun, but with much larger amplitudes.

See http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/ for more details.

It'd be really nice if Celestia could model variable stars. The keywords recognized in STC files would have to be enhanced, of course. Period and luminosity amplitudes would be needed for periodic variables plus some kinds of randomization factors for irregulars.

Posted: 14.11.2003, 05:28
by Bob Hegwood
Okay,

Thanks again, gentlemen. In my terminology he's talking about a "Variable" Star then. This feature might be interesting to watch over a couple of centuries. What an amazing universe it is not?

Pulsars, Black Holes, Nebulae, Galaxies and Variable stars. Simply fascinating.

Take care, Bob