Stellar Flares on Proxima Centauri : news note

With speculation about possible life on the planet orbiting Proxima (Proxima b), this report on past observations may throw some gloom on that prospect. Several stellar flares have been recorded on Proxima Centauri during observing sessions of time series photometry performed at the Bronberg and Kleinkaroo Observatories over the period 2006-2012. Telescopes of 30 and 35cm aperture were used with CCD cameras and photometric filters.