Posted on 06/06/2023 12:36:17 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: It’s the end of a world as we know it. Specifically, the Sun-like star ZTF SLRN-2020 was seen eating one of its own planets. Although many a planet eventually dies by spiraling into their central star, the 2020 event, involving a Jupiter-like planet, was the first time it was seen directly. The star ZTF SLRN-2020 lies about 12,000 light years from the Sun toward the constellation of the Eagle (Aquila). In the featured animated illustration of the incident, the gas planet's atmosphere is first pictured being stripped away as it skims along the outskirts of the attracting star. Some of the planet's gas is absorbed into the star's atmosphere, while other gas is expelled into space. By the video's end, the planet is completely engulfed and falls into the star's center, causing the star's outer atmosphere to briefly expand, heat up, and brighten. One day, about eight billion years from now, planet Earth may spiral into our Sun.
I hope it was a vegan planet......................
The reason there are so many “hot Jupiters” seems to be because Jupiter-sized planets tend to migrate inwards and eventually merge with the sun, destroying any chance for life on the inner planets. The only reason Jupiter itself hasn’t done this is it shares a stable orbital resonance with Saturn. Otherwise, earth would have been toast a long time ago. This is yet another factor which could make life in the universe a rare thing.
Kids doing donuts in the parking lot...
Gulp.
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