Like many of us, as some stars get older, they get bigger. Like, really big. Big enough to swallow up any planets orbiting near by. Astronomers have known this for a while now, but they'd never actually seen it happen ... until now. Emily explains what's going on, what's been observed, why a planet-gobbling star seems the only real explanation, and what it all means for the Earth's distant future.

Syzygy Merch! Get it at the store.

Help us make Syzygy even better! Tell your friends and give us a review, or show your support on Patreon: patreon.com/syzygypod

Syzygy is produced by Chris Stewart and co-hosted by Dr Emily Brunsden from the Department of Physics at the University of York.

On the web: syzygy.fm | Twitter: @syzygypod

Things we talk about in this episode:

• The original paper by De et al

• A good article about the research https://time.com/6276702/star-eating-a-planet/

• The Zwicky Transient Facility https://www.ztf.caltech.edu

• NASA's NEOWISE telescope https://neowise.ipac.caltech.edu

• Really big stars

• Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9