starstorm

Starstorm is a term used in science fiction and related media to describe an intense stellar outburst or disruption that releases large amounts of energy and material into surrounding space. In fictional settings, starstorms are often depicted as hazardous phenomena that affect spacecraft, satellites, and planetary atmospheres, sometimes altering orbits or triggering gravitational disturbances. The exact mechanics vary by work, but common elements include high-energy radiation, charged particle fluxes, debris, and strong stellar winds. Starstorms may be tied to underlying stellar processes such as magnetic activity, binary interactions, or rapid evolution, and they can serve as plot devices to drive exploration, survival, or technological challenges.

In real-world astronomy, there is no standardized phenomenon called a starstorm. Realistic analogues include solar storms—coronal mass ejections and solar flares—from our Sun, and similar activity on other stars, as well as transient events like nova and supernova, which release energy on vastly different scales and timescales.

In media, Starstorm is used as a title or concept in various works and can refer to events, campaigns, or settings where spacefaring civilizations contend with hazardous stellar activity. The portrayal of Starstorm varies widely, from localized bursts affecting ships to planet-scale catastrophes.

See also: solar storm, coronal mass ejection, stellar flare, nova, supernova, space hazard.