In a first, astronomers spot a star swallowing a planet
Scientists have observed a star swallowing a planet for the first time. Earth will meet a similar fate in 5 billion years.
Source: mit.edu
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Scientists have observed a star swallowing a planet for the first time. Earth will meet a similar fate in 5 billion years.
The researchers clarified that the process of "planetary engulfment" is common in the life cycle of star systems.
The findings reveal that depending on the size of the swallowed object and the stage of the star's evolution, interactions between a substellar body (a planet or brown dwarf) and the hot gas in the outer envelope of a sun-like star may result in a variety of consequences.