Astronomers Observe 'Afterglow' , From 2 Planets Colliding.
For the first time ever, astronomers have
observed an "afterglow" from the impact
of two massive planets crashing into each other. .
'The Independent' reports that the heat and dust resulting
from this collision swirled in front of the planets' star,
allowing scientists to observe the explosion's aftermath.
Near a star much like our own Sun, an amateur astronomer
first spotted the collision of two massive ice planets
when he noticed unusual light coming from the star. .
To be honest, this observation
was a complete surprise to me.
When we originally shared the
visible light curve of this star
with other astronomers,
we started watching it with
a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from
Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .
To be honest, this observation
was a complete surprise to me.
When we originally shared the
visible light curve of this star
with other astronomers,
we started watching it with
a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from
Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .
An astronomer on social media
pointed out that the star brightened up
in the infrared over a thousand days
before the optical fading. I knew
then this was an unusual event, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from
Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .
The team's research suggests that the glow, which began
to fade over a three-year period as dust covered the star,
was coming from the heat left over by the explosion. .
Our calculations and computer models
indicate the temperature and size of the
glowing material, as well as the amount
of time the glow has lasted, is consistent
with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.
Our calculations and computer models
indicate the temperature and size of the
glowing material, as well as the amount
of time the glow has lasted, is consistent
with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that astronomers
plan to confirm their theories as they continue
to observe the results of the planetary collision. .
Co-author Zoe Leinhardt, from the University
of Bristol, says the material remaining after the
collision could condense to form a series of moons. .
The research, titled 'planetary collision
afterglow and transit of the resultant debris
cloud,' was published in the journal 'Nature.'