A new study published in the journal Nature documents the first observation of an aging star swallowing a planet. Recent observations show the star has returned to the size and brightness it was before merging with the planet. That brightening was evidence of dust (which emits infrared light) forming around the star. “Very few things in the universe brighten in infrared light and then brighten in optical light at different times,” said De. JPL manages and operates the NEOWISE mission on behalf of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office within the Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Source: The Star May 07, 2023 14:43 UTC