A seemingly ordinary star, Gaia20ehk, began to flicker strangely. Its light dimmed and brightened unexpectedly, capturing the attention of astronomer Anastasios Tzanidakis from the University of Washington. While examining telescope data, Tzanidakis discovered that starting in 2016, the star exhibited unusual dips in brightness. By 2021, its flickering intensified.
“It’s not typical for sun-like stars to behave this way,” Tzanidakis remarked, wondering what was behind such odd behavior.
The mystery was revealed: massive chunks of planetary debris were likely blocking the star’s light from reaching Earth. These findings are detailed in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Located about 11,000 light-years away near the constellation Puppis, Gaia20ehk’s fluctuations were unprecedented. To get a better understanding, Tzanidakis and his team used infrared data from a different telescope. Interestingly, while visible light from the star waned, its infrared light surged. Tzanidakis suggested that this could indicate that the material obstructing the star was heating up enough to glow in infrared wavelengths.
The flickering may have stemmed from large amounts of dust and rocks moving in front of the star. When planets collide, they create significant debris and generate enough heat to explain the infrared spikes. Tzanidakis explained that initial dips might reflect two planets gradually spiraling toward each other, followed by a catastrophic collision that produced a dramatic increase in infrared energy.
Planets form from dust, gas, ice, and rock around young stars. During their formation, collisions are more frequent as systems stabilize. Although these cosmic collisions are common, witnessing one from Earth is rare. The debris must cross directly in front of the star to block its light, and events can unfold over many years, making them easy to overlook.
James Davenport, an astronomy professor and senior author of the study, praised Tzanidakis for his patience and dedication to observing slow cosmic events. “Not many researchers explore phenomena like this, so there are countless discoveries waiting to be found.”
Looking ahead, researchers believe that the new NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory will enhance our ability to spot similar events during its extensive survey, kicking off soon.
Tzanidakis expressed excitement over the discovery. There are only a few recorded planetary collisions, and this one resembles the impact believed to have formed Earth and the moon. Observing such events could deepen our understanding of planet formation across the galaxy.
In recent years, public interest in astronomy has surged, with many people sharing their fascination on social media platforms. Tweets, TikToks, and Instagram posts are now filled with images of stars and cosmic phenomena, reflecting a growing passion for space exploration. As more data becomes available and telescopes improve, events like Gaia20ehk’s flickering might not just be scientific curiosities, but also a bridge connecting more people to the wonders of the universe.
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