Astronomers Witness Star Devouring Planet, Offering Glimpse into Earth's Future.

Astronomers have observed a star swallowing a planet for the first time, providing a glimpse into the future of Earth. The planetary demise took place in our own galaxy, some 12,000 light-years away, near the eagle-like constellation Aquila. The scientists estimate that the planet was likely a hot, Jupiter-sized world that spiraled close, then was pulled into the dying star’s atmosphere, and, finally, into its core. The study’s MIT co-authors include Deepto Chakrabarty, Anna-Christina Eilers, Erin Kara, Robert Simcoe, Richard Teague, and Andrew Vanderburg, along with colleagues from Caltech, the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and multiple other institutions.