"Egg-shaped Exoplanet Death-spirals into Star"
Astronomers have found that the egg-shaped exoplanet WASP-12b, twice the size of Jupiter, is hurtling towards its parent star and is expected to collide in just 3 million years, much sooner than previously estimated. The planet's extreme proximity to its star causes immense tidal forces, shaping it like an egg and stripping material that forms a disk around the star. The research also suggests that the star may have already entered its sub-giant phase, triggering rapid tidal dissipation. The findings could indicate that other ultra-hot Jupiters might also be on collision courses with their stars, prompting further research into orbital decay rates.