Scientists Discover a Planet Consumed by Its Star

In 2020, astronomers using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) detected an unusual brightening in a distant star system. Initially, the event resembled a luminous red nova, which typically occurs when two stars merge. However, this event was less bright than standard luminous red novae. Over the following two years, researchers continued to monitor the system, focusing on its light emissions. Their analysis revealed that the star had consumed an orbiting planet. Some of the planet's material was partially expelled during the process. This observation provides direct evidence of a star engulfing a planet, a phenomenon that has been theorized but rarely observed. The findings contribute to the understanding of the life cycles of planetary systems and the fate of planets orbiting aging stars. The research was reported by Sciworthy and is based on data from the ZTF survey.