I use this picture from wikipedia as an example
Gamma Orionis (left), Algol B (right), the Sun (center)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1e9m_comparison.png
i think it would be usefull to bring different bodies in one screen for size / color comparison
btw why not rendering star flares ? just make a few flare animations and apply them to patched polygons on the star sphere