MOSCOW, May 15. Scientists from the St. Petersburg State University of Aviation Administration have established that the intensity of the solar magnetic activity corresponds to the level of other stars of the yellow dwarf class. According to the authors of the work, the data obtained allow us not only to refute the theory of the “exclusivity” of the Sun, but also to suggest that intelligent life can arise near stars of this type. The results are presented in the scientific publication “Letters to the Astronomical Journal”.
The behavior of the Sun was studied in two periods of time. For the first, all data was used from the moment when astronomers had the opportunity to directly observe the star using a telescope. Over a longer period, the study was carried out on the basis of the so-called radionuclide reconstruction.
“We looked at extremely high levels of solar activity based on our own reconstructions of changes in sunspot area in the past and the distant past. Two time intervals were selected: the last 410 years and the last 8780 years,” said a professor at the Institute of Fundamental Training and Technical Innovation of St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (St. Petersburg GUAP) Yuri Nagovitsyn.
He added that earlier in the first time interval it was possible to recreate the average annual changes in the size of sunspots. Thus, having a picture of long-term changes in the “spotting” of the Sun, it became possible to clarify their extreme manifestations relative to other stars.
According to scientists, the study showed that the intensity of solar activity is almost equal to the level of other similar stars, while previously in scientific works it was believed that the Sun is an “exceptional” star and its activity is 10 times lower than average.
“Many of the sun-like stars with which we made comparisons have planetary systems. According to some studies, variations in magnetic activity play an important role in the formation and climate change of planets and, therefore, in the possibility of the emergence of life on them. Therefore, our research does not exclude the development of life on the planets of stars similar to the Sun, and perhaps we are already observing some of these stars,” said Nagovitsyn.
The university clarified that the Sun is a yellow dwarf star, their prevalence in our galaxy is about 10%.< br />
The study was carried out within the framework of the “Priority-2030” program of the national project “Science and Universities”, of which St. Petersburg SUAI is a participant.
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