We know that storms can be found on planets, but until recently there’s been little evidence showing they can also form above the scorching-hot surface of a star. According to NASA, the L-dwarf star known as W1906+40 is the first living star that’s been observed hosting an active storm system.
NASA first discovered the star during their Wide-field Infared Survey of 2011, but it wasn’t until it was spotted by the Kepler telescope that they noticed something unusual. Kepler is designed to detect periodic dips in starlight like those that occur when a planet passes in front of a star. Astronomers knew that the dark blot over W1906+40 wasn’t a planet, and they first suspected a star spot created by concentrated magnetic fields. Upon further inspection with the infared Spitzer telescope, it was revealed that the spot was actually a colossal storm system.
via Mental Floss
Image: JET PROPULSION LABORATORY/NASA
