Flares at the Cool End of the M Dwarfs: The Case of LHS 2065
Abstract
LHS 2065 is an M9 very low mass star at a distance of 8.5 pc. It was known to have Hα emission, but no other emission lines had been seen before. We observed it on 1998 December 12 and found a rich emission spectrum (He I, Na D, and Balmer series). Additional spectra were obtained after 1 hr, 2 hr, and 1 day. They showed progressively weaker emission lines. Using our data and a compilation of the literature, we find that, while strong flares in LHS 2065 are rare (their recurrence rate is <=0.03 hr-1), weak flares may be common (about 0.5 hr-1). Our observations add to the growing evidence that many, if not all, of the coolest M dwarfs have flare activity.
- Publication:
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The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2001
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2001AJ....121.2758M
- Keywords:
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- Stars: Activity;
- Stars: Flare;
- stars: individual (LHS 2065);
- Stars: Late-Type