A recent study based on observations from the James Webb Space Telescope challenged previous hypotheses about an extraordinary cosmic phenomenon: stars devouring planets. Far from being a star that expanded to engulf its planet, as believed, the data revealed a more gradual and silent process.
Published in The Astrophysical Journal, the analysis suggests that the planet, located about 12,000 light-years from Earth, gradually lost orbital height until completely disappearing inside its star. The event, identified as ZTF SLRN-2020, was first detected as an optical flash from the Palomar Observatory, but the key was in the infrared data from the NEOWISE telescope, which showed activity a year earlier.
Stars as a major threat to planets
The James Webb Telescope allowed reinterpreting the phenomenon thanks to its high-resolution infrared instruments, MIRI and NIRSpec. “We didn’t really know what to expect,” admitted Ryan Lau, an astronomer at NOIRLab and lead author of the study. “Now we are beginning to understand how the life cycle of planetary systems, including our own, can end,” he pointed out.
Initially, it was thought that the star was in an advanced phase of its life, heading towards becoming a red giant. However, the Webb analysis revealed that it had not increased its brightness or size as would be expected in that case. This rules out the idea of a sudden expansion and instead points to a slow downward spiral of the planet. This finding not only rewrites the story of a unique event but also provides new clues about the fate of planets in solar systems.
The James Webb Telescope revealed that stars devour planets. Photo: Wikipedia.
What is James Webb’s job?
According to NASA, the Webb is responsible for examining every phase of cosmic history, ranging from the first luminous flashes after the Big Bang, through the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, to the evolution of the solar system itself.
Its name was chosen with the intention of honoring James Webb, who was the NASA administrator in the 1960s. In fact, he oversaw the Apollo missions, such as humanity’s arrival on the Moon.
This telescope is so powerful that it can detect the heat of a bumblebee as far away as the moon. According to NASA, the Webb telescope is so sensitive to infrared light that it would be able to detect even the slight heat of a bumblebee at the distance of the moon.
Source: EuropaPress.
