Astronomers witness star consuming Jupiter-like planet in a first-of-its-kind event.

Astronomers using the Gemini South telescope in Chile have observed the first direct evidence of a dying sun-like star engulfing one of its planets, which may be a preview of the ultimate fate of Earth when our own sun nears the end of its life in about five billion years. The event was seen in a long and low-energy outburst from the star, and the process would put the brakes on the planet's orbital velocity, causing it to plunge into the star. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution and final fates of planetary systems, including our own.