UNAWE Space Scoop - Watch Out, Earth! A Dying Star Just Ate A Planet

https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2312/watch-out-earth-a-dying-star-just-ate-a-planet/ For the first time astronomers found direct clues of a dying sun-like star eating an exoplanet. The star is in the constellation Aquila, the Eagle, and is called ZTF SLRN-2020, but for now let’s just call it 2020. So much easier to remember!   Using the NSF NOIRLab’s Gemini South Telescope in Chile, researchers observed a long burst of light coming from the star, a burst low in energy. This is a telltale sign of a planet skimming along near the star's surface. This ‘long & low’ stellar outburst took place in our Milky Way nearly 13,000 light-years away from Earth.    Such events are estimated to occur at most only a few times each year and maybe only once a decade, across the entire Milky Way galaxy. So should planets like Mercury, Venus and Earth be worried?  Let’s find out!   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at [email protected].