Chandra Finds Evidence for Stellar Cannibalism

[tymygy]

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2010) â€" Evidence that a star has recently engulfed a companion star or a giant planet has been found using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The likely existence of such a "cannibal" star provides new insight into how stars and the planets around them may interact as they age

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914115234.htm

Just imagining the immense power of this event makes me wish I could see it happeningwith my own eyes.

I feel so small and weak when they discover things like stars engulfing other stars.

BTW the picture is beautiful.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Lordy, what a great article.  Thank you much!

[karadan]

Wow. The energies involved with such an event are incomprehensible. I wonder if the expansion of the star is halted for a while whilst fusion starts up again after its planetary meal. I wonder if the life of the star is prolonged by much after such a merger. Anyone know?

Thanks for posting. I love articles like that.