Astronomers Capture First-ever Afterglow of Massive Planet Collision

Astronomers have observed the aftermath of a collision between two giant planets for the first time. The collision caused a sudden brightening of a star in infrared light, followed by a fade in visible light. The event was marked by the formation of a massive cloud of dust, which eventually blocked enough light to cause the fading. The collision likely involved two ice giant planets similar to Neptune and Uranus, and the majority of their mass is expected to form a new planet. The researchers have also detected light from this new planet, which may eventually condense to form moons.