They got a sneak peek at what could be Earth’s ultimate fate in about 5 billion years when the sun reaches the end of its life and engulfs the solar system’s inner planets -– including our own.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Good morning. I’m Michel Martin. It’s a first for scientists – seeing a star gobbling up a planet. It was a gas giant about as big as Jupiter. In one big gulp, the star engulfed the planet, letting out a burst of light. The galactic feast took place between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. Experts say Earth may suffer a similar fate one day. That’s billions of years away. So like “The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” says, don’t panic.
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