Planets are eaten by dying stars as they turn into red giants and expand.

In a remarkable discovery, astronomers have confirmed a long-suspected phenomenon in the cosmos: dying stars, or red giants, can engulf nearby planets in a dramatic cosmic ballet. This extraordinary behavior is exemplified by our own sun's fate, which, in approximately five billion years, will swell into a red giant, incinerating Earth in the process. Recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope have shed light on this phenomenon by directly observing a star that absorbed a planet nearly the size of Jupiter. For years, astronomers have speculated on red giant stars consuming nearby planets, but with the Webb telescope's advanced capabilities, scientists have observed a crucial shift: instead of a straightforward absorption, the planet's orbit gradually shrank, leading to its eventual engulfment. Lead author Ryan Lau notes the uncertainty surrounding these observations, emphasizing the immense value of high-resolution infrared data in understanding such cosmic events. The collaboration of experts from multiple research institutions, including a pivotal study published in The Astrophysical Journal, emphasizes the critical ongoing research into the life cycle of stars and their effects on surrounding celestial bodies. Insights gained from these observations not only enhance our understanding of planetary destruction but also potentially inform us about similar outcomes for our solar system in the distant future. Overall, this discovery underscores the dynamic and often destructive life cycles of stars, inviting a sense of wonder about the fate of planets like our own and encouraging a deeper inquiry into the processes that govern the universe.