MIT astronomers catch a star in a feast that could last billions of years

Astronomers have discovered a bizarre star system about 300 light-years from Earth where a small star is slowly devouring a nearby brown dwarf, an object too massive to be a planet but too small to be a true star. Unlike stars that rapidly swallow their companions, this one is gradually stealing material in a process that could continue for billions of years. MIT astronomers catch a star in a feast that could last billions of years.

The brown dwarf overflows onto its companion, and the stream of material strikes the surface of the red dwarf, heating a large hot spot at the point of impact. Instead of swallowing its companion in one dramatic event, the star is steadily pulling material from it, creating a cosmic feeding process that could continue for billions of years. Most planets, including Earth, travel around their stars in relatively stable orbits.

But these peaceful arrangements can sometimes end violently. If a planet ventures too close to its host star, the star’s gravity can drag it inward and eventually engulf it. Scientists have observed many planetary systems with stable orbits, along with a small number of stars caught rapidly swallowing their planetary companions.