Astronomers working with data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have made a groundbreaking discovery about the fate of a planet engulfed by an aging star. Previous theories suggested a dramatic and swift end for the planet as it spiraled into the star’s core. However, new observations challenge these ideas and present a different narrative.
Located approximately 12,000 light-years away in the Milky Way galaxy, the star’s unusual behavior first caught astronomers’ attention in 2020 with a visible light flash known as ZTF SLRN-2020. Subsequent infrared data from NASA’s NEOWISE mission hinted at a dust buildup, leading researchers to believe the star was transforming into a red giant.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) provided crucial insights by revealing that the star did not reach typical red giant brightness levels. Contrary to expectations, the planet did not get swallowed whole by the star in a sudden event. Instead, it steadily spiraled inward over millions of years, eventually grazing the star’s outer atmosphere.
As the planet continued to approach the star, a violent interaction occurred, causing gas to be expelled from the star’s surface. Subsequent cooling of this gas formed a faint halo of dust that glowed in the infrared. Additionally, observations from the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) unveiled a hot, molecular gas disk surrounding the star, containing elements typically found in regions where planets form.
The discovery sheds light on the aftermath of a planet’s demise and prompts scientists to reconsider the impact of such events on a star’s outer layers and surrounding planetary debris. This rare phenomenon was observed under the Webb telescope’s Guaranteed Time Observation program 1240, highlighting the importance of capturing unpredictable celestial events.
Looking ahead, astronomers anticipate discovering more events like these with advanced observatories such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These powerful tools will allow researchers to study sudden changes in stars and planets, further enhancing our understanding of their final stages.
In the grand scheme of cosmic events, the fate of the engulfed planet offers valuable insights into the lifecycle of stars and planetary systems. With continued advancements in telescope technology, scientists remain eager to unravel the mysteries of the universe and uncover more remarkable discoveries.