Bedtime Astronomy

Giant Starspots and Superflares: Inside One of Kepler’s Most Extreme Stars

Bedtime Astronomy

Show Notes

What makes KIC 2852961 one of the most magnetically active red giants observed by the Kepler mission?

Researchers have traced its extreme behavior to a hidden stellar companion whose gravitational influence helps power a powerful internal magnetic dynamo. The result is a surface covered in enormous starspots and capable of unleashing colossal superflares. Discover the unusual physics behind this stellar powerhouse.

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