Researchers at the University of Warwick have analyzed an enormous flare dubbed as ‘superflare’ generated by star KIC9655129 in Milky Way Galaxy. Post-analysis, they said that a similar solar flare can be produced by our sun as well. The massive energy emitting superflare observed from star KIC9655129 is roughly 1,500 light years away.

The star KIC9655129 and our sun are quite similar. The researchers noted that sun can produce a solar flare of comparable intensity. But, the research team mentioned that the chances of such an event are very rare.

The research carried out by a group of astronomers from the University of Warwick’s Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics has appeared in the most recent issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The study received grants from a European Research Council project headed by Professor Valery M. Nakariakov.

Study co-author Anne-Marie Broomhall, from the University of Warwick in England, said that the resemblance between our sun-produced solar flared and the star KIC9655129 has backed the theory that the sun can produce a potentially destructive superflare.

A general solar flare generates energy equal to that of 100 million megaton bombs, but a superflare may release energy equivalent to around 100 billion megaton bombs.

The research team used Kepler Space Telescope and spotted the huge superflare on KIC9655129. On the basis of observations made with the help of Kepler, researchers got to know about key similarities between superflare of KIC9655129 and eruptions on our sun.

Study lead author Chloë Pugh mentioned in the research paper, “If sun were to produce superflare it would be disastrous for life on Earth; our GPS and radio communication systems could be severely disrupted and there could be large scale power blackouts as a result of strong electrical currents being induced in power grids”.