Star Devours Jupiter-Sized Planet in Historic First Observation

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Source: The Associated Press
Star Devours Jupiter-Sized Planet in Historic First Observation
Photo: The Associated Press
TL;DR Summary

Scientists have observed a star swallowing a gas giant planet around the size of Jupiter or bigger, in a first-of-its-kind observation. The star had been expanding for eons and finally engulfed the close-orbiting planet. The event occurred between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago near the Aquila constellation. The swallow itself was quite brief, occurring in essentially one fell swoop. Astronomers suspect thousands of planets around other stars will suffer the same fate, including our solar system in about 5 billion years when our sun morphs into a red giant and gobbles the four inner planets.

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