A flare star is a variable star which can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes or a few hours. The brightness increase is across the spectrum, from X rays to radio waves.
Flare stars are dim red dwarfs, although recent research indicates a possibility that brown dwarfs might also be capable of flaring.
The first known flare stars (V1396 Cygni and AT Microscopii ) were discovered in 1924. However, the best-known flare star (UV Ceti) was discovered in 1948, and today flare stars are sometimes known as UV Ceti variables.
The Sun's nearest stellar neighbor Proxima Centauri is a flare star, as is another near neighbor, Wolf 359. Because they are so intrinsically faint, all known flare stars are within about 60 light years from Earth.
It is believed that the flares on flare stars are analogous to solar flares.
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