4 May 2023

Astronomers observe star eat a planet for first time

From Midday Report, 12:42 pm on 4 May 2023

In a world first, scientists have observed the moment that a dying star consumed a planet - a fate that eventually awaits Earth.

While astronomers have previously seen planets just before and just after being engulfed by a star, this is the first time that a planetary demise has been witnessed.

The lead author of the study, Kishalay De of MIT University, says the discovery came from his study into the brightness of stars.