Astronomical objects called
radio stars include any source of radio emissions coming from a star or other stellar source (such as pulsars). Within this broad definition is a variety of fascinating stellar radio sources.
Many radio stars are simply visible stars that emit a lot of radio waves. Our sun emits radio waves and, due to its proximity to us, is the strongest radio source we can observe in the sky. Radio waves are emitted from the sun’s corona, which is its outermost layer. The layer of the sun is a very turbulent place and will often erupt into huge bursts of hot gas called solar flares. These solar flares emit bursts of radio energy.
Bursts of radio energy are also observed on other, more distant stars. These stars are called
flare stars and often generate bursts of radio energy up to a million times more powerful than those from our own star’s solar flares.
Solar Flares from NOAO
NSO / AURA / NSF
