Astronomers Make a Groundbreaking Find

In a remarkable turn of events, astronomers have spotted a star that has gobbled up a nearby planet! This jaw-dropping discovery reminisces the cosmic spectacle of a star merger, classified as a luminous red nova, but the true story is even more outrageous.

How It All Started

In 2020, the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) captured mysterious signals from the cosmos, leading to the identification of ZTF SLRN-2020—a subluminous red nova. Fast forward two years later, a dedicated team of astronomers focused their attention back on this captivating phenomenon and unveiled the startling evidence of a planet's demise.

Unraveling the Mystery

Prior observations using near-infrared telescopes uncovered chemical traces of titanium oxide, vanadium oxide, and carbon monoxide in the star’s atmosphere. These chemicals hinted that the star's outer shell had undergone a tumultuous transformation. But instead of two stars colliding, astronomers believe the culprit might be a planet between the sizes of Neptune and ten Jupiters!

What Caused This Cosmic Collision?

The team pondered how this star managed to consume a planet. They proposed two main scenarios: the star’s natural expansion bringing it into its planet's orbit, or an orbital decay process, where the planet spirals inward due to energy loss. To get to the bottom of this cosmic caper, they employed the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for detailed follow-up observations.

The Stellar Investigation

By combining data from the JWST and the Gemini North telescope, the researchers pieced together a vivid picture of ZTF SLRN-2020. They identified four key characteristics: the star's reddish hue, high-energy electrons in its hydrogen, persistent carbon monoxide, and traces of phosphine—signatures typically found in gas giants or regions surrounding young stars.

From Star to Stellar Massacre

Using advanced computer modeling, they concluded that ZTF SLRN-2020 once bore a striking resemblance to our Sun, yet was merely 70% its size. Significantly, it was too young for standard lifecycle expansion, which suggests that the orbiting planet must have spiraled inward, viciously crashing into the star. This collision unleashed a burst of energy in 2020, lighting up the star’s outer layers.

A Cosmic Aftermath

The catastrophe didn’t just obliterate the planet; it also sent ejected material into space, forming two dust layers: a cold outer shell and a hot inner disk. Alarmingly, there was no trace of the planet's core left orbiting the star—it was consumed whole!

A New Frontier in Astronomy

This unprecedented event marks a fresh chapter in astrophysics as it represents the first known case of a planet being engulfed by a star. The diverse range of instruments utilized in this research paves the way for future discoveries, equipping scientists to track similar cosmic phenomena in the vast universe. What other mysteries lie hidden among the stars?