Artists impression of the superflare observed on one of the stars in the V1355 Orionis binary star system. Researchers from Kyoto University utilized both terrestrial and satellite observations to record a superflare on the binary star system V1355 Orionis. The details of how superflares and prominence eruptions on stars occur have been uncertain.
Artists impression of the superflare observed on among the stars in the V1355 Orionis binary star system. The binary companion star is visible in the background on the right. Credit: NAOJ
Researchers from Kyoto University utilized both terrestrial and satellite observations to capture a superflare on the binary star system V1355 Orionis. The superflare started with an enormous prominence eruption, potentially resulting in Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). The research study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, offers new insights into the formation of superflares and their possible impact on planetary and life development.
A group of Japanese astronomers utilized simultaneous ground-based and space-based observations to capture a more complete picture of a superflare on a star. The observed flare started with an extremely enormous, high-velocity prominence eruption. These outcomes offer us a better idea of how superflares and outstanding prominence eruptions happen.
Some stars have actually been seen launching superflares over 10 times larger than the largest solar flare ever seen on the Sun. The hot ionized gas released by solar flares can influence the environment around the Earth, referred to as space weather. More effective superflares must have an even greater effect on the development of any planets forming around the star, or the evolution of any life forming on those planets. But the information of how superflares and prominence eruptions on stars take place have been uncertain.
A team led by Shun Inoue at Kyoto University used the 3.8-m Seimei Telescope in Japan and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to monitor the binary star system V1355 Orionis which is understood to often release massive superflares. V1355 Orionis lies 400 light-years away in the constellation Orion.
Information analysis reveals that the superflare originated with a phenomenon understood as a prominence eruption. Computing the speed of the eruption requires making some presumptions about elements that arent directly observably, but even the most conservative estimates far surpass the escape velocity of the star (347 km/s), indicating that the prominence eruption was capable of breaking totally free of the stars gravity and establishing into Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
These outcomes looked like Inoue et al. “Detection of a high-velocity prominence eruption resulting in a CME related to a superflare on the RS CVn-type star V1355 Orionis” in The Astrophysical Journal on April 27, 2023.
Reference: “Detection of a high-velocity prominence eruption causing a CME connected with a superflare on the RS CVn-type star V1355 Orionis” by Shun Inoue, Hiroyuki Maehara, Yuta Notsu, Kosuke Namekata, Satoshi Honda, Keiichi Namizaki, Daisaku Nogami and Kazunari Shibata, 27 April 2023, The Astrophysical Journal.DOI: 10.3847/ 1538-4357/ acb7e8.
Calculating the velocity of the eruption requires making some assumptions about elements that arent straight observably, however even the most conservative price quotes far surpass the escape speed of the star (347 km/s), indicating that the prominence eruption was capable of breaking free of the stars gravity and developing into Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).