Star corpse devours planet — scientists baffled by cosmic mystery.
What happens when a dead star still consumes its planets? Astronomers discover a white dwarf star, the corpse of a sun-like star, tearing apart a planet in a process that defies current understanding.
This celestial event has been unfolding for 3 billion years. The white dwarf, named WD 1856+534, is a remnant of a star that long ago exhausted its fuel. It is actively feeding on a planet that orbits too close.
A cosmic horror unfolds in slow motion. Scientists observe debris from the consumed planet spiraling into the white dwarf. This spectacle offers a glimpse into the violent end of planetary systems.
The exact mechanisms driving this sustained planetary destruction are still unknown. Researchers are puzzled by how the white dwarf maintains its gravitational hold and consumption rate over such vast timescales.
Further observations are planned to unravel this stellar enigma. This ongoing cosmic drama reveals the extreme, and sometimes unexpected, fates awaiting planets.
