Scientists have captured a star swallowing a planet for the first time. One big gulp, not just a nibble.
It appears a gas giant around the size of Jupiter or even bigger is being eaten by its star, according to astronomers on Wednesday. After aging for eons, the sun-like star finally engulfed the planet it orbited as it grew bigger and bigger.
A gloomy preview of what will happen to Earth when our sun transforms into a red giant and swallows the four inner planets.
The Nature journal reported that this is the first time the swallow itself has been observed, despite other stars nibbling at planets and their digestive aftermath. Researchers will be on the lookout for more cosmic gulps now that they know what to look for. Our solar system may eventually suffer the same fate as thousands of planets around other stars.